Re: [Descriptions] was: [RANT] Trusting Mechanics (diagnosis)

["RoccoPhil" <roccophil@mindspring.com>]

> >
> >Alternators have built in voltage regulators. Generators dont.
> >
>
> Bzzzzt, wrong answer!
>
> (in USA usage at least) Alternators produce alternating current (hence the
name) by rotating a magnet inside a fixed coil of wire, then convert this to
direct current using diodes.  Generators produce direct current by rotating
coils of wire inside a magnet and using a carbon brush assembly to connect
to whichever coil is in the correct position to produce maximum voltage.
Either could have an internal or external regulator, but I have never seen a
generator with internal regulator. Plenty of older alternators had external
regulators.


Bill has hit it on the head here.

My point is that calling it a generator is still correct in that it
'generates' the recharge for the battery; obviously it does not 'alternate'
the recharge.  Simple English.  *How* it goes about doing this for the
system (alternators doing it via A/C current) is a technical issue.  I
believe the term alternator was coined to describe this different system,
while generators were still in use.

Nonetheless, it still is the system that generates the current for recharge;
thus, VW calls it the generator still.

-PK



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