This message from Cetin Seren may be of interest to those who expressed
interest in the controller. Apparently, alternators on newer cars are
equipped with the low-consumption smart voltage comparator chip.

>All European cars 75 and up have these solid state regulators -- a lot
>cheaper to manufacture and they last much longer, and they are much
>moer sensitive...  It took the U.S. automotive industry a little
>longer to catch up, as usual...
>
>In terms of pulling them from junkyards, they are usually  these
>little inch-sized (or smaller) little cubes piggy-backed on the
>alternators -- rectifier and voltage regulator all in one.  

-- 
Sami ('75 Westf.)
dakhlia@wuecona.wustl.edu
http://wuecon.wustl.edu/~samid/