An alternator comprising: a case; a rotor disposed inside said case, said rotor being fixed to a shaft and having a fan (7, 8) disposed on an axial end portion; a stator disposed so as to surround said rotor, alternating current being generated in said stator by a rotating magnetic field from said rotor; and a rectifier disposed near an end portion of said shaft, said rectifier rectifying said alternating current generated in said stator, wherein: said rectifier includes: a first heat sink; first unidirectional conducting element bodies disposed on a surface of said first heat sink so as to be spaced apart; a second heat sink disposed so as to be separated from said first heat sink; second unidirectional conducting element bodies disposed on said second heat sink so as to be spaced apart; characterized by a circuit board having a circuit-board terminal by which said first unidirectional conducting element bodies and said second unidirectional conducting element bodies are connected so as to constitute a bridge circuit, and a terminal connection portion, configured by connecting a terminal leading out of said first unidirectional conducting element bodies and a terminal leading out of said second unidirectional conducting element bodies respectively with said circuit board terminal, is disposed between said rotor and said circuit board, wherein said terminal connection portion is configured by extending axially and connecting said terminal of said first unidirectional conducting element bodies, said terminal of said second unidirectional conducting element bodies and said circuit board terminal respectively. a case; a rotor disposed inside said case, said rotor being fixed to a shaft and having a fan (7, 8) disposed on an axial end portion; a stator disposed so as to surround said rotor, alternating current being generated in said stator by a rotating magnetic field from said rotor; and a rectifier disposed near an end portion of said shaft, said rectifier rectifying said alternating current generated in said stator, wherein: said rectifier includes: a first heat sink; first unidirectional conducting element bodies disposed on a surface of said first heat sink so as to be spaced apart; a second heat sink disposed so as to be separated from said first heat sink; second unidirectional conducting element bodies disposed on said second heat sink so as to be spaced apart; characterized by a circuit board having a circuit-board terminal by which said first unidirectional conducting element bodies and said second unidirectional conducting element bodies are connected so as to constitute a bridge circuit, and said rectifier includes: a first heat sink; first unidirectional conducting element bodies disposed on a surface of said first heat sink so as to be spaced apart; a second heat sink disposed so as to be separated from said first heat sink; second unidirectional conducting element bodies disposed on said second heat sink so as to be spaced apart; characterized by a circuit board having a circuit-board terminal by which said first unidirectional conducting element bodies and said second unidirectional conducting element bodies are connected so as to constitute a bridge circuit, and a first heat sink; first unidirectional conducting element bodies disposed on a surface of said first heat sink so as to be spaced apart; a second heat sink disposed so as to be separated from said first heat sink; second unidirectional conducting element bodies disposed on said second heat sink so as to be spaced apart; characterized by a circuit board having a circuit-board terminal by which said first unidirectional conducting element bodies and said second unidirectional conducting element bodies are connected so as to constitute a bridge circuit, and a terminal connection portion, configured by connecting a terminal leading out of said first unidirectional conducting element bodies and a terminal leading out of said second unidirectional conducting element bodies respectively with said circuit board terminal, is disposed between said rotor and said circuit board, wherein said terminal connection portion is configured by extending axially and connecting said terminal of said first unidirectional conducting element bodies, said terminal of said second unidirectional conducting element bodies and said circuit board terminal respectively.