Self Exciting Alternator Question

[drew]

Hello,

Will a self exciting alternator work without a battery?  I think the answer is yes, though the output would be noisy.

Will a non self exciting alternator work without a battery?  I think the answer is no.

Thanks

[drew]

Both standard and self exciting alternators need a battery to start, once both alternators are started you can take the battery away, the working alternator will keep it going. I built a self contained charger with a string trimmer motor and an alternator. I would excite the alternator with a push button and a small 9 volt rectangle dry cell battery with a diode in the circuit so the power would go from the small battery into the alternator but the diode kept it from going back into the 9 volt battery.
 
Alternatorman