Hello,

I am replacing a refurb alternator with another refurb alternator both from the same manufacturer, it was a warranty replacement. Can anyone tell me what this little silver cylinder is in the pictures below and if I need to move it to my new alternator? It has a single lead that runs to the positive terminal on the alternator. Is it a capacitor for ripple smoothing? Not sure if I had to move it on the last one or if it just came with it and they changed the design...

Thank you,
Nick

 

Just do it

 

i have no idea what it is but it looks easy enough to just transfer over. I am interested to find out what it is though

 

This will be my 4th alternator (3rd in 3 years)... im worried that this cylinder thing whatever it used to be may be damaged and is shorting the alternator to ground and thats why I keep killing them..... I wish I knew what it was.

 

well its labeled .5 micro underneath so I'm pretty sure its a capacitor and for smoothing output ripple... Does anybody know if its critical to have? I just have this nagging feeling that its damaged and shorting the alternator and thats why my car has killed 3 of them.

 

I wouldn't transfer it. The diodes and voltage regulator inside the alty should produce a nice clean DC voltage.

 

http://www.sacskyranch.com/altnoise.htm

I may replace it anyways due to my own paranoia

 

In the electronic world it is called a capacitor and in the automotive industry its called a condenser. It sends the AC noise back to ground instead of it getting in your electronics. Some alternators have it built into the diode rectifier while others have it external.