alternator info

On an alternator there is no commutator as on a dynamo, but slip rings to transfer the volts to the real world. I would think it should work (try it on the bench using an electric drill to drive it). Or create a bevel gear drive between engine and alternator to change the direction.

Peter

Thanks, i will try it, all alternators have diodes don`t they?

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Peter Chadbund" saying something like:

An alternator will run backwards just fine; the only thing you have to watch is the fan - it'll not work backwards. You can hope you can find one in a breakers for that rotation.

Hmm. On the Lucas one I've just had apart, the brushes are offset from the centre line of the armature shaft. Running it the wrong way might just result in shorter brush life or very early failure. But they've obviously made it like this for a reason.

Thanks guys, i`ve managed to get my alternator off, i`ll have a look at the brush angles. How much are the brushes offset by?

Cheers

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Dave Plowman (News)" saying something like:

They'll last a surprisingly long time backwards - just don't hope for megamileage out of it though. As I say, the fan's useless in reverse, which is more of a problem.

On mine I'd say roughly about half the width of the brushes.

Ok. I'm just surprised they bothered if it's not a problem.

And possibly the flow being reversed through the alternator even with a suitable fan. Of course, some modern high output types are water cooled.

Thanks guys it is definately worth trying then, i`ll get the metal laser cut soon then and find out!

Why should the fan direction change? Its only the alternator which he wants to turn round

Peter

The cooling fan on the front of the alternator behind the pulley. Not the engine one.

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Dave Plowman (News)" saying something like:

They'll certainly last longer, running the right direction.

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Peter Chadbund" saying something like:

If he's turning it round to face the engine ( I assume on a sticky-out bracket of some sort) it'll be running in reverse.