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Subject:Re: exciter circut, alternator?
From:David Beierl
Date:Mon, 16 Oct 2000 10:09:46 -0400

At 02:43 10/16/2000, Jeff and Deb wrote:
>has not gone away.  Which fuse goes to this circut that he is refering to?
>Where is the wire located in the van, and what should I do next to solve the
>problem?

The exciter circuit is the alternator warning light circuit.  Its primary
function is to supply a small current to the alternator D+ when the engine
starts -- this generates a magnetic field in the alternator and starts it
generating; upon which the D+ input becomes an output and stops accepting
current (and the alternator light goes out).  The OXS light is connected to
the alternator light to provide a bulb test function for the OXS light,
which would otherwise never light until the elapsed-mileage switch closed
after N-thousand miles.

What year is your van, you must always say -- they are not all alike.

david

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"