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Old 20-Jun-2017, 9:55 PM   #53
rabbit73
Retired A/V Tech
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: S.E. VA
Posts: 2,747
A car alternator is designed to run with a case temperature of 200°F, according to a GM tech in Detroit that I consulted. He had done many measurements on car and truck alternators using thermocouples attached with thermal epoxy. I measured car alternators with a Fluke thermocouple probe when I was installing transmitters in cars to find out how much extra current could be drawn by the transmitter without damaging the alternator. For every 10 degrees C rise in temperature above 212°F (100°C), the life of the alternator is cut in half. The insulation on the wires starts to soften at about 120°C, depending upon the insulation Class. The diodes get pretty hot, too.

And your point is, for the current topic?
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Last edited by rabbit73; 20-Jun-2017 at 11:24 PM.
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