Re: Does a outboard motor have an alternator?
They work slightly differently, but the effect is the same.<br /><br />An alternator in a car spins a coil of wire in a stationary magnetic field, thus generating electricity.<br /><br />A stator is a stationary coil, and the flywheels spins magnets around it, thus generating electricty. A stator almost always has some sort of ignition trigger and ignition power source combined with it, so it generates electricity AND is an integral part of the ignition system. An alternator is not part of the ignition system.<br /><br />The stator produces AC current, which is then changed to DC through the rectifier. Most of the coils on the stator are for power generation to charge the battery and run the electrical system for the boat. A few of the coils are used to generate spark energy, and are usually separate from the other power generation coils. It is possible for a stator to malfunction and NOT re-charge the battery, yet still providing spark energy.
