Generator capacitor question?

I broke the generator noise capacitor wire on my 1962 Cadillac. To short to solder it back together. Trying to find a replacement the is correct. My question is, do I need one for a generator or will one made for a alternator work? The only thing I know about noise capacitor is it eliminate the noise caused by the running part. Thanks Dave

Dave, I would not worry about this unless you get static in the radio, Carquest has these noise suppressors, you should be ok if you have one on the regulator though.

Thanks Maxwedge, I was looking to replace it, just to keep the car together. I can buy a $40 one for a generator or $9 one for a alternator. They look the same but are they? Dave

I recall the capacitors are external, right? There are AC and DC capacitors. Obviously a generator is DC and uses a DC capacitor.

The alternator charges in AC current, but is converted to DC with an internal rectifier. So, if the alternator capacitor is downstream of the rectifier, its a DC capacitor. If not, its an AC capacitor and will not work in a generator.

If both are DC capacitors, there are a wide variety of working voltages, nominal capacitance and tolerances for capacitors, even if they look the same. These specifications should be printed on the side of the capacitor. You can compare the two, its possible the alternator capacitor and generator capacitor have the same specifications.

Even if they are different, the alternator capacitor may have sufficient tolerance to function for a generator. But you would have to research the relevant functional differences to be sure. Here's a bit of info to help. Personally, I'm no electrical engineer so I am not sure how variences in specs will affect function.

http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/capacitor/cap_3.html

The differences are rated in microfarads of capacitance and the alt./gen units are different.