T Mack 1 - FSO wrote on 08/31/07 at 06:24:59:All,
I keep see many people call the charging system an Alternator. This is wrong. It is a generator.
Why??
An Alternator is a "set "of coils, one spinning, one fixed. One of them gets a voltage from the battery (or other source) which creates a electro-magnet effect. Most modern Alternators have a regulator to adjust this voltage so you get a faster recovery. But, an alternator will work poorly if the voltage drops too low. Now, this sounds like your getting enery from nowhere, but, don't forget that you're burning fuel and stealing some of that energy to convert to electricty.
A Generator has a coil and a set of magnets. It will work with a dead battery or a fully charged battery. Minor problem with generators is the faster they spin the more voltage they create. That's why there are voltage regulators. Bigger issue is, if they spin too slow then they don't give enough voltage.
Now,......many people think that a generator makes DC voltage and a alternator makes AC voltage. They see the rectifier on the bike (thingy that makes AC into DC )and thus think they have an alternator. This is WRONG. All generators and alternators create AC voltage. To get DC voltage, they use rectifiers, either external or internal to the unit.
So, the LS650 has a generator because it has magnets spinning around the stator coil(s).
I have been schooled... now so have you.