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How do you tell the difference between an Alternator and a Generator I have a 54 210 Delux with a Delco Remy generator/alternator model# 100028 4F4. What is it? and how many amps?

Thanks Roberr54

An alternator generates alternating current that is rectified to pulsating direct current. They are typically a flat biscuit shape. A generator (which from the numbers yours is of July '54 mfg.) makes direct current. The advantage of an alternator is that they will generate current at very low speeds when compared with a generator.

If I get a chance I will look up the amp rating later today.

You have a generator.The 110028 is a 40 amp generator.This means that when charging at full amps its putting out 40 amps.To do so either its charging a dead battery or every light and eletrical accessory would need to be turned on - and the voltage regulator correctly adjusted.Under normal conditions it will not be charging that high.To attain the maximum charging rate the engine would need to be turning over about 1500 RPM or going 30 MPH in high gear.At Idle the generator does not charge.An alternator charges about 6 amps.

There were no US cars equipped with an alternator in 1954 as standard equipment.The first Chevrolet to have an alternator as standard eqp. was in 1963.There was an option in 1961 and 1962 but very rare.

The generator is longer and smaller in diameter and painted black.The alt. will be silver/aluminum color.For normal driving the generator will do a very good job.

Alternator:


Generator:

Thanks for the information, I have been looking at the Chevrolet Shop Manual, in the supplement for the 1954 cars they talk about generators and alternators(pg.22)"resemble each other in external appearance," so I was just wondering what was in my car.

Thanks again for your time

I don't have the 1954 supplement but my guess as to what they are talking about is a heavy DC generator (alternator) as an option for the real large trucks and or police car and taxi use.

What I think they meant was both attach to the side of the engine and both are driven with a fan belt. Or they were referring to a heavy duty alternator as Gene said, some special heavy duty Chevrolet vehicles had a Leece-Neville Alternator setup as early as 1938 or 1939 as a special order option needed to power a old tube type 2 way police or company radio using a electric motor to power the transmitter. These alternators were huge and they had a large silicone rectifier mounted in front of the radiator to convert the AC voltage to DC voltage.
I am sure you now can tell the difference between a modern car alternator and the old generator. You know what they say about a picture being worth.....

I was fortunate enough to have worked in the experimental test garage of Delco Remy at that time, and we supplied heavy-duty alternators to the local taxi and police fleets. These units were of our own 6V design and used Selenium rectifiers to convert AC to DC. These Selenium rectifiers were the old stacked-plate design and worked well, but were somewhat fragile.

Ok, so they were different than the Leece-Naville units I saw on some of the old Chevrolet service trucks they were 49 thru 54 year models. Same Selenium Rectifiers, which I mistakenly called a silicone rectifier. must be the CRS again....