Quote:
Originally Posted by B767Driver  My Warrior electrical schematic shows a diode between the alternator and the alternator switch. I would not think that the alternator would be a load for the battery.
However, turning off the alternator switch could isolate a short between the switch and the alternator...which definitely could cause problems. |
The voltage regulator varies output of the alternator by varying field current, in essence it's varying the strength of the magnet. In the case of a failed alternator, the alternator is putting out zero voltage and the battery voltage is low so the regulator is sending full current to the alternator field to try and "wake it up."
Actually I guess in terms of the original question the failed alternator would cause an additional load until the voltage regulator was shut off.