TIP-RIPPER 4160249 - Caterpillar

Never operate the alternator without the battery in the circuit. Making or breaking an alternator connection with heavy load on the circuit can cause damage to the regulator.
Alternator
Illustration 1 g01325347
Alternator components (typical example)
(1) Regulator
(2) Roller bearing
(3) Stator winding
(4) Ball bearing
(5) Rectifier bridge
(6) Field winding
(7) Rotor assembly
(8) Fan The alternator is driven by a belt from an auxiliary drive at the front right corner of the engine. This alternator is a three-phase, self-rectifying charging unit, and the regulator is part of the alternator. The voltage regulator is a solid-state, electronic switch. The regulator turns on and the regulator turns off many times in one second in order to control the field current to the alternator. The output voltage from the alternator will now supply the needs of the battery and the other components in the electrical system. No adjustment can be made in order to change the rate of charge on these alternator regulators.