26-08-2020, 09:03 AM
Colin,
Well done for that; your drawing has saved me some rummage time!
And yes, being a permanent magnet alternator it doesn't need voltage to excite the alternator's field; but also, this means that there is no control over the permanent magnets' field strength, so the regulator needs to sink some energy when full charge isn't required by the battery.
The only factory installation I've seen of one of these had the regulator mounted to the garden tractor's metal frame, allowing it to act as a heat sink. Otherwise, it didn't appear to be in an especially well ventilated area.
Well done for that; your drawing has saved me some rummage time!
And yes, being a permanent magnet alternator it doesn't need voltage to excite the alternator's field; but also, this means that there is no control over the permanent magnets' field strength, so the regulator needs to sink some energy when full charge isn't required by the battery.
The only factory installation I've seen of one of these had the regulator mounted to the garden tractor's metal frame, allowing it to act as a heat sink. Otherwise, it didn't appear to be in an especially well ventilated area.