what's the condenser for on a mechanical voltage regulator?

Hustlin' Hank wrote:

> On Feb 18, 8:02�pm, wrote:
>
>>Just tried my '66 GTO's mechanical voltage regulator on my friend's
>>'69 Firebird and it started charging his battery again. �Even though
>>he had bought a new voltage regulator a month or so ago. �(And then an
>>alternator.) �His does not have the condenser installed on the voltage
>>regulator like mine does, but there's a terminal for it.
>>
>>I'm wondering if the condenser is necessary, maybe to keep the
>>contacts from burning? �I'd heard it was to prevent radio
>>intereference, which we don't care about. �I can't find anything in
>>the service manual about it. �If it's necessary to prevent contacts
>>burning, maybe his new voltage regulator fried its contacts.
>
>
> I could be wrong, but I always thought they were for radio noise only
> since most don't have them. The points on the voltage regulator
> solenoids don't open and close at over 1000 times per minute like the
> igniton points (only when key is turned on/off), therefore they won't
> burnt out nearly as quick.

Actually, at least one pair of contacts in a voltage regulator DOES
open/close very fast. Maybe even faster than the engine points.