On Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:58:29 -0500, Wes wrote:

"Mach1" wrote:

Build a good cage around the alternator. At 10,000 rpm there could be
pieces going into earth orbit.


The ratio of the crank pulley to alternator pulley on cars is ~2:1. Almost all IC auto
engines can hit 5000 rpm before rev limiting takes place.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever had an alternator blow up from rpm?

Wes
Almost impossible. Ever look at the rotor in one of those things? As a
rough guess, 25000 RPM MIGHT do it if the bearings didn't go first.