stupid question??

[npca-cowland]

--I am trying to figure out with the generator undermy hood if I take off one of the cable while itsrunning should it die??-> >

[npca-riverpatrol]

Not immediately. As long as the battery has a charge it will keep running. By disconnecting the cable you are just losing the charge to the battery, so the battery is not being recharged. It will run until the battery goes dead.

[npca-vike]

My late 1966 Patrol is fitted with an alternator.  My early 66 parts Patrol has a generator - with a different wiring harness.  So it seems that the Patrol came with either system and I suspect 66 was the change over year from generator to alternator but someone with more knowledge might well correct me on the specific year. Removing a main battery cable from the battery with an alternator system will not stop the engine. I do not believe that is true for a generator sytem.       

[npca-riverpatrol]

You're right, Vike - the early Patrols had a DC generator. They went to an alternator in '68, although it still had an external regulator. I have come across many Patrols that had the generators replaced with alternators.

[npca-abuelo442]

With a generator, there is no problem in removing the battery cable while the engine is running. In fact, with an almost dead battery, you can start the engine (towing the car), and the engine will remain on.    With an alternator however, you run the risk of burning it alltogether, specially the stator or the diodes, because once you disconnect the battery while still running, the regulator has no means of controlling the adequate voltage, and will go overboard (specially at high revs), where you can be feeding over 18 volts in some cases. Don't try this.   Esteban

[npca-bigwave]

I have done this to this my 1980 Datsun 720 PU and smoke started coming from every part of my truck within about 1 minute. As Abuelo442 states, not a good idea! I fortunately shut her down and saved the wiring.   David Collins Hood Canal Communications