[DML] What's the difference between ALTERNATOR and GENERATOR

["daviddlasvegas" <daviddlasvegas@xxxxxxxxx>]

Continuing with the car electrical comments ...

Cars today have documentation in the manual for "alternators" and the 
tell tale light says "ALT" for alternator (or is the symbol of a 
battery).

But I have 2 late 1970s cars in my family, and the tell tale light 
says "GEN" for generator.

Is there a difference between an 'alternator' and a 'generator' or are 
the two terms used interchangeably with regard to cars?

Also here is a question I get no one can answer...

While not the case on the DMC, GM cars from the 1970s-80s had "GEN" 
tell tale lights. If you turned the key into accessory mode, all the 
tell tale lights illuminated. But the "GEN" light was always dimmer 
than the others. Why was it dimmer?



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