Generators and Charging System

Two questions. Do you determine if a generator turns CW or CCW looking at the shaft end? What is the difference between an "A" and a "B" circuit ?

A "B" circuit regulator is one that supplies voltage, not ground to the field coils since the field winings are internally grounded inside the generator. The "A" circuit is the opposite. Hope this helps.

I took you question and took it one step further. Can one reverse the pulley rotation and get the thing to work? Read on.

Your other question had me stumped so I ask a fellow who has been either a mechanic or auto shop teacher for many years. Here's his response.

Since the angle of where the brushes meet the commutator is not completely vertical on at least some generators, I believe brush wear would be accelerated. The way the commutator is wired is also rotation sensitive, I believe. There's a pretty special relationship between the brushes and the commutator, and I'm pretty sure most, if not all generators are direction sensitive. He also said that you have ask a very good question.

All the generators I have run across turn CW looking at the pulley but I have not seen all generators on all cars by any means. If you could identify the car we could zero in on that.