X-Mozilla-Keys:                                                                                 
Ed Anderson wrote:

Ken,
    Many electrical charging circuits with alternators use the battery load
as part of the voltage regulation and stabilization mechanism.  Taking the
battery off line in most General Aviation aircraft is prevented by a
interlocking masterswitch.  The switch permits you to remove the field
voltage to the alternator without turning off the battery, but prevents the
operator from removing the battery from the circuitry without also removing
the alternator field voltage simultaneously.  This is to prevent overvoltage
conditions (which I am told can run to 50-60 volts or more ) caused by
removal of the battery load from the circuit.

Ed Anderson

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