Alternators how do they work

The diode rectifier converts the voltage from the alternator into a form that can be used by the battery to recharge.

Alternators give off a lot of heat and need to be cooled to operate efficiently. What does an alternator do? As we know, the alternator provides your car with the bulk of its electricity and helps recharge the battery.

But to do all of that, the alternator must first turn mechanical energy into electricity. The process of producing electricity begins with the engine. Electricity is made as the rotor spins. The magnets surrounding the rotor are deliberately placed so that as they pass over the copper wiring in the stator, a magnetic field is created. The battery provides electricity needed for the starter motor to start the car. When the car is running, the alternator generates energy to feed the electrical system and charge the battery.

The alternator used to be called a generator, and it works in a similar way. An alternator works together with the battery to supply power for the electrical components of the vehicle. The output of an alternator is direct current DC. When the alternator pulley is rotated, alternating current AC passes through a magnetic field and an electrical current is generated.

This is then converted to DC via the rectifier. Advancements in technology have meant that alternators have changed vastly in the last 50 years. Originally, alternators were only used to generate current which was controlled by an external regulator. The introduction of a built in regulator, in the s, used the warning light to excite the alternator and start the charging process.

Many modern vehicles adopted a load request type charging system with the introduction of smart charge systems and CANBUS systems which are now widely being used. As the vehicle demands more load the ECU sends a signal to the alternator requesting it to start charging.

The alternator has to cope with varying electrical loads and adjust its charge rate accordingly. These days it is easy for these types of alternator to be mis-diagnosed faulty if a charging fault is experienced on the vehicle but more often than not, no fault is found with the alternator. The voltage regulator controls the amount of power distributed from the alternator to the battery in order to control the charging process. It is that only the wear and tear of the alternator and other parts connected to it that will put these cycles to a halt.

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