oh and another thing concerning the open circuit voltage....

remember those underhood welder kits you can buy??? You can still find them sometimes in the back of 4 wheeler magazines, or probably even JC Whitney

All they consist of is a Chrysler 100 amp alternator, and a solenoid that disconnects the battery then uses the alternator's high voltage to burn the electrode! It burns it at alot higher voltage than 18V!!! You regulate the power by regulating the rpm of the engine. Thats all they are.

They used the Chryco ones because they were the only alternators that would survive in that application.

You can weld with your own alternator on your own car if you want. Go outside, and disconnect the alternator while the field is energized, then hook up a stinger to your alternators output terminal. you can now burn rod all day or until your alterenator dies. (it wont be long) unless you have an old Chyrco 100 amper. They were overkill!

Sincerley Darrel Waltrip, oops, I mean the PROFESSOR!