SpaCreek: THE 12 VOLT DOCTOR’S ALTERNATOR BOOK Edgar J. BeynThe 12 Volt Doctor's Alternator Book “The 12 Volt Doctor's Alternator Book continues inthe same familiar and wel loved style as “The 12 Volt Doctor's Practical Handbook" to help simplify the mysteries of the boat's altemator—the prime source af poser on almost every boat. ‘Simple drawing and clear instructions abound, helping you to identify your alternator and understand how it works. Get to know your alternator—it could save your battery's lif, aGreek) division of Liton —_ bi Cc PLATHEH NAVIGATION AUTOMATION. North American Division 222 Severn Avenue ‘Annapolis, Maryland USA 21408-2569 301 263-6700Published by C. PLATH NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION 222 Severn Avenue Annapolis, MD 21403 ISBN 0-911551-10-7 ©1986 Spo Creek Inc. Annapolis, Merylond Allright cesrved. Notice : Names, brands, and designs appearing in this bookare registered trademarks or service marks which belong to the respective proprietary companies. INTRODUCTION ‘Alternators are all around us. There is hardly an engine which does rot have one, running alongside in ears, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, boats, aircraft, form machines, earth moving equipment, and all kinds of stationery engines. Obviously, the alternators are doing job very well since we hear 20 little about them. something does go wrong, most of the more popular models have their replacement available almost instantly, waiting on dealer shelves, in alternator shops, often even in department stores. How different things become though if you want something slightly out of the ordinary, an alternator with greater output, some added feature, unwsual application, or if you and your vehicle or vestel happen to be in a place where technical services are less abundant. Where you are the available technical service. Or when you want your alternator to do something new or different and, even though the expert may have fold you it could'nt be done, you ore not quite ready to give up. On top of that, it does not help that alternators on thelr way from the manufacturer 10 the engine or car factory take on a new name : Delco alternator may become a Buick or Perkins, « Motorola one may become known as a Volvo or Universal. Just try to find @ Hitachi or ‘Mitsubishi alternator in an auto store : there it may only be known ot @ Mazda, while at an engine dealer's it may be called Westerbeke or Yanmar. This book tries to make you see how alternators work, what they have in common, and how they differ in some details. The sketches should help to identify brands and types , if not models. dimensions should help when you hove to replace one w: IF you are lucky, you will never need the trouble shoot ‘emergency repoir instructions. But if you do, | hope they help. They should ot least make you more fluent on the subject. Annapolis, April 1986 Edgar Beyn