Posted by Paul on August 20, 2000 at 01:12:24:
In Reply to: Alternator question. posted by Steve Elliot on August 19, 2000 at 18:10:09:
{{A friend told me if you disconnect the battery while the engine is running and it does not quit then the alternator is working. I did this and the engine kept running. However I noticed the headlights got brighter as I increased the RPM's. Is this normal? Also I used the old pulley from the generator on the new alternator. It is larger in diameter than the one that came on the alternator. Is this OK? I can't see how it would matter. }}
It really isn't a good idea to run it without the battery in the system as the battery acts as a shock absorber (pun intended) and buffer to even out the pulses the alternator makes. The diodes smooth it out when it is changed from AC to DC but not completely. The alternator has to have a power source to make the initial magnetic filed. It doesn't have one of its own like a generator.
The larger pully will slow the charge of the alternator. It's called an under drive pully. It's used a lot in racing to free up more horsepoer to the wheels. If you idel a lot it may allow the battery to discharge. If you're running down the road, it shpould work okay.