The output of an alternator is regulated or controlled through Positive (P-Type) or Negative (N-Type) side designs. An N-Type design, however, can cause extreme overcharging of the battery and potential explosion if the field wire shorts to ground or if there is an internal short in the alternator.

The high temperatures from this overcharging may even create a fire hazard. For these reasons and more, Balmar recommends converting all externally regulated alternators to P-Type for better safety performance and compatibility with their regulators. A comparison between P-Type and N-Type circuits can be seen below: