Chris-

You need to stick with diagnosing fuel leaks with a cigarette in your mouth. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Just keep that life jacket close by.

An alternator only produces as much as the load placed upon it. Given it is within the capacity of the alternator. Remember there is a regulator in there somewhere? Well, that keeps it to 12 volts, the rest has to do with resistance within the magnetic field induced within the alt.

I am sure that www.howstuffworks.com has a better and more indepth explantion. Or, sign up for your own electronics class, as you just asked a question that involves a lot of electrical theory. Or, I can just tell you "Becasue." <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Michael