Hi Mike It's a permanent magnet alternator. It outputs a sine wave AC that is rectified to DC electronically by the regulator and then regulated to 14.8 volts. A generator puts out DC, the rectification is accomplished physically by the commutator and brushes within it. Your PMA won't deliver a charge at idle off a direct drive...it doesn't spin fast enough. If it were a field driven alternator then things would be different.
Regards John John Martindale 29 Jane Circuit Toormina NSW 2452 Australia H: 02 6658 4767 M: 0403 432179 With the Diehl > alternator/generator (I've been calling it an alternator but somebody > just told me it's a generator because it uses magnets) not turning very > fast, the battery has to carry the load of all the things that are on at > night when coming in for landing with power at idle. ...........snip
