Date:         Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:15:42 -0700
Reply-To:     Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      alternator--voltage vs amps
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I'm trying to understand alternators now.  I'm retired,
so have nothing better to do....

There are lots of web pages that explain how/why the
voltage is adjusted with the alternator.  What I cannot
find is an explanation of amperage.  Amps is what charges
the battery--at the correct voltage.  I do not understand
how the amperage output of the alternator is varied.

It seems to me that a discharged battery would need lots
of amps.  A full battery, car with no lights on, etc,
would need very little.  What does the voltage have to
do with this, except to correct for the temp of the battery?

You can see how I was a math major, not an engineer.  Help
me out.

Thanks,
Richard

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