Voltage regulator

[rich]

Last weekend, I removed the instrument panel from N99997.  As I was tracing out the electrical system, it was interesting to note that a diode had been added to the regulator field circuit.  My coupe has a master switch on the panel that operates a solenoid operated relay at the battery and it sends 12V to the instrument panel.  The master is a two pole single throw switch.  One pole operates the aforementioned solendoid and the second pole open/closes the generator field circuit from the regulator to the generator.  On the master switch a diode has been added from the field circuit to ground and is located on the regulator side of the switch.  I've been thinking about it for three days now and I can't come up with a reason.  Most of my reference books on regulators advise on opening the field circuit during shutdown but none reference a diode.  Any ideas??? Richard Blair N99997 - 415D St. Marys, Ga.  4J6 [EMAIL PROTECTED]