# testing alternator while in car

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/testing-alternator-while-in-car/248617>\
**Category:** Shift518 Automotive\
**Created:** [November 25, 2009, 7:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/testing-alternator-while-in-car/248617 "2009-11-25T07:48:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 18

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Shady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Shady](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shady)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 9:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/testing-alternator-while-in-car/248617/18 "2009-11-25T09:28:03Z")

</div>

> [@WTB: suit of armor](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wtb-suit-of-armor/12393/28):
>
> Cant you just have the car running and disconnect the battery? Then the alternator, if good, would allow everything to still work. I know you solved your problem, I am just curious.

No, the battery is what completes the circut. The altenator is simply a device that keeps the battery constantly charged, most altenators dont posses enough power alone to keep “newer” car running.

---

_[View the full topic](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/testing-alternator-while-in-car/248617)._