>> OK, all, I've hung it out there. Take your fair pot-shots and shoot me down if I am wrong.
Dave is right on the money. It only takes a couple of volts to excite the alternator. (Generators are self exciting due to the residual magnetism in the show poles, hence the issue of "flashing" the generator.). My comment (directly) to Percy was that if there was enough power to run the radio there was enough to excite the alternator. Ercoupes originally all had master switches rather than relays that don't rely on battery power to operate. As long as this is still the case, the battery should charge. Whether it accepts the charge is another issue. If the plane has been modified with a master relay then the relay must somehow get pulled before anything (including the radios) will function. Once it is pulled the charging system should keep the system operating. John Cooper Skyport Services 4996 Delaware Tnpk Rensselaerville, NY 12147 518 797-3064 www.skyportservices.net _____
