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

["David Teitelbaum" <jtrealty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

For a long time after cars went to alternators the light still said
"GEN". It was just a common usage as people were not comfortable yet
with alternators but knew what a generator was. As generally used in
automotive practice a generator produces D/C and an alternator
produces A/C (which is converted to D/C internal to the alternator).
Generators were replaced about the same time cars went from 6 volts to
12 volts, back in the 50's. Also negative ground became the standard
way of grounding for most cars about the same time. Since this isn't
really Delorean specific I am sure you can find out more about this
subject in other areas.
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "daviddlasvegas" <daviddlasvegas@...>
wrote:
>
> 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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