alternator shut off

I just found a 1970 Jeep and it has a little switch to shut off the alternator. 1st- is that normal and
2nd- why would you turn it off, it doesn't pull that hard on an engine does it? Just to let you know i am a new person to the jeep. Thank you for any info, Nate. this is a little four cylinder engine.

 

Sounds like the previous owner put a switch in there to prevent then engine from running on after the key was turned off. I don't think you can "turn off" the alternator, but you can cut the juice to it. IIRC, it should be to the "Acc" side of the ignition switch instead of a toggle.....

Someone jump in if I'm wrong.

 

Mine is rigged that way. I ahve a switch that ignites my alternator. I do that because if I want to drive through water, I can shut down, restart, and only have juice going through my coil and not through the rest of my electrics. That same switch controls all of my accessories as well as the tach etc.
Just wanted it that way.

 

Thanks for the info.