Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Can an alternator be spun anti-clockwise and still function correctly if it was originally running clockwise?

Cheers
Daryl

I'm not an alternator guru, but I don't think there'd be an issue electrically. The cooling "fan" behind the pulley will be running the wrong way, so you should change that over.

I don't know if bearings and brushers will have wear patterns peculiar to the running direction, and be less reliable running in the opposite direction?

Cheers,

Scott

i don't think it will work maybe due to magnetic fields not sure

why would it be spinning backwards for? the only way this will happen is if you turn the alternator around as in the pully is now facing the rear of the car

Bartso wrote:i don't think it will work maybe due to magnetic fields not sure

why would it be spinning backwards for? the only way this will happen is if you turn the alternator around as in the pully is now facing the rear of the car

The magnetic field is generated by the field coil, which isn't polarity sensitive. If the field is reversed then so is the current generation; but it's an ac current anyway, which is rectified by the diodes, so I can't see that it's an issue.

But good point about the spinning backwards. I pictured he would be moving it to the other side of the engine, but that won't make a difference to the direction of rotation...

Cheers,

Scott

Yes pulley will be facing engine, with body of alt forward. Dimensionally big motor + new home + 6" into the firewall = need for lateral thinking , definite space issues!

Googling last night I found there is no problem with running backwards other than cooling fan efficiency, fan going backwards is pushing rather than pulling and curved blades set up for clockwise rotation.

Cheers
Daryl

You can get fans that will suit to run backwards. The only difference is the blades are facing opposite direction.