The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Mr. Proffit would be proud of this

What's the difference between an alternator and generator? What do I have in my 55 2nd? Is there any benefit of one over the other?

The Gen will charge a flat dead batt, where an alt will not. The alt needs some juice to activate the charging system. I think this is correct, any one else have something to ad? :p

If your 55 2nd is original , it has a generator..

Philip,

You are correct, You can for example push a car downhill with a dead battery on, get in gear and it will start when the engine start spinning a little bit high. But let's take a deeper look.
The generator has magnets inside and it is able to generate electric current fron a zero input, to make it simple. Also note that it does produce straight current. That is, the energy output is adequated to be delivered to the battery and to all the accesories in the vehicle. Note that it is a very good way to produce energy. Even some welding machines uses this devices as current generators to make welding possible.
The alternator is a li'l different. At first it has no magnets, so it must be excited to start generating some current. If they are not excited, You can spin then as fast as You want, they will produce nothing! This needed excitation is put into the rotor, which transfer or induces electricity in the outer windings. The only hassle is that it output is alternate current, just like the one we can find in the plug at the wall. So it needs to be rectified in a diode bridge, an arrangment that converts the alternate current into straight current, just what a car needs.
Nowadays almost all alternators are self regulated, in a way that they work as a stand alone item. Very reliable and very confortable to be installed in an older vehicle. Not to mention that they are smaller, easier to fit and much lighter than a generator.

Works for me too!! I need alittle excitation to the rotor every once in awhile to spark my magnuts too!!! Hehehehehe Very good explanation of the principle in all kidding aside. But I do think it will be over Proffit's head the Calif.with the smog and all!!

Thanks to all. I believe mine (on the 55 2nd) is original and now I know what a generator is. And if I get any money I will know which wire harness kit to buy.