"Jose" wrote in message
...
What would be the source of this surge? If it's such a problem, why
don't automobiles have alternator switches?

I don't know. But there is an avionics master also, and it is off when I
start the engine for the same reason. Cars don't have that either.

My '97 Chev. Lumina has an avionics cut-out switch for starting. Come to
think of it, so does my '96 GMC Sonoma pickup.