Does an alternator care what direction it turns ?Since, it alternates: plus, minus, plus, minus. I have a rebuilt alternator I bought at a garage sale, I was told it was for a Subaru. I don't know what year it's for. How can I tell if it is self regulating ? I'm not very electrical when it comes to this problem.
The only part of an alternator that cares about direction is the fan, the fan is designed to draw air through the alternator to cool it. As for self regulating that is hard to determine with no picture
No, alternators shouldn't care which way they are turning, generators do. Depending on the configuration of the cooing fan blades, they may not work as well when reversed.
Jim
Thanks, I hadn't thought about the cooling fan. I appreciate your input.
There are 2 types of fans, single direction and some are neutral directions, so it depends on what you have and know that there are solutions out there, Normally a fan will have a arrow for its direction needed , if it is a single direction fan
"How can I tell if it is self regulating ?"
Take it to your local auto electric shop and ask them. They should also be able to give you all the details about it.
Alternators....don't
Often the TAG itself with show you that information, it usually shows you a diagram of the plug, if there is not a F post, for Field and if there is a S post for Sensing and/or a I Post for Ignition . Most likely it is self regulation.
also posting a picture of unit/connections most here will be able to easily identify