Larry Bradley 23:14 2004-10-20:
>I looked into that data sheet - interesting. It is intended for an alternator in which the regulator controls the current through the field ground side.

That is common in car use.  Probably because NPN is cheaper than PNP.

> Most marine alternators designed for use with an external regulator have the field grounded internally, and the regulator supplies the voltage for the field (high side driver).

That is much smarter seen from reliability in damp environments - you don not want voltage between winding and ground when not necessary.

(For really good marine use, things are not using ground at all, to avoid galvanig corrosion between different materials in the structuyres.)

/Morgan
--
Morgan Olsson, Kivik, Sweden

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