67dart273 said

actually a motor can be a generator can be a motor can be a generator

that is why older generator systems had to have what is called a "cut out relay."

really old systems, before regulators came along, were a single cutout relay in a can. Regulators included the regulator. Automotive generators are not "self limiting" so they must also have a current regulator, hence the three relays in a generator type regulator ---- voltage regulator, current limiter, and cutout relay

now the reason you need a cutout is, that if the generator stops charging due to a problem, or is shut down, or breaks a belt, it tries to become a motor, and i, in fact have had that happen a couple of times in my "yute." if you break a belt with the engine running, the cutout doesn't trip, and the generator sits there spinning wildly, until you either disconnect one of the regulator connections, or wedge a tree branch, etc, against the pulley.

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