Charging System
Charging System
Major Parts
Battery
Alternator
Regulator
Alternator
Provides power to the electrical components and accessories,
When the vehicle is running.
Converts mechanical energy to electrical energy
(Driven by Crankshaft, with the help of a drive-belt)
The out put of alternator is DC, but actually AC voltage is generated
and then converted to DC.
Charging Circuit
Alternator
S senses battery voltage
IG ignition switch signal turns the
regulator on.
L grounds the warning lamp
B alternator out-put terminal
Alternator
Alternator Contains
Regulator
Regulator is the brain of the alternator.
It controls the alternator out-put (Typically 13V to 15V) .
It monitors both battery and stator voltages and depending on the measured
voltages, the regulator will adjust the amount of rotor field current to control
alternator output.
Electronic voltage regulator introduces more resistance between the
rotor windings and battery to reduce the alternator out-put.
Mounted internally
Externally
Diode Rectifier
Diode Rectifier
Forward Biased acts as a conductor (Current passes through)
Reverse Biased acts as an insulator (Current does not pass)
Rotor
The rotor field winding creates the magnetic field that induces voltage into
the stator.
The rotor spins creating an alternating magnetic field, North, South,
North, South, etc.
Each end of the rotor field winding is attached to a slip ring. Stationary
brushes connect the alternator to the rotor.
The rotor assembly is supported by bearings.
Stator
The alternating magnetic field from the spinning rotor induces an alternating
voltage into the stator winding.
The strength of the magnetic field and the speed of the rotor affect the amount of
Stator Design
DELTA Delta wound stators can be identified because they have only
three stator lead ends.
Delta stators allow for higher current flow being
delivered at low RPM.
The windings are in parallel
Stator Design
Wye (Y) wound stator have three windings with a common neutral junction.
Can be identified by 4 stator leads.
Used in alternators that require high voltage output at low alternator speeds .
Two windings are in series at any one time during charge output.
Brushes
Diagnosing
Common Symptoms
Dead Battery
Overcharging battery
Abnormal noise
Diagnosing
Preliminary Check
Belt too loose will slip and too tight will kill the bearings (Should
deflect with thumb pressure)
Battery/Charging Fuse or fusible link.
Dirty terminal/post.
Diagnosing
PERCAUTIONS
Disconnect Battery.
Do not reverse polarity.
Do not operate alternator with battery disconnected.
Diagnosing
Charging System Test
Charging System out put test: measures current and voltage output of
charging system under a load(Most Accurate test).
Regulator Voltage Test: measure charging system voltage under low output,
low load condition.
Diagnosing
Checking Diodes:
Diagnosing
Stator check
Check resistance between terminals (A,B,C) and ground to Terminals.
If resistance is high (infinite) the stator is shorted.
Rotor Test
Short-to-Ground Test
Rotor Test
Open Circuit Test
Rotor Test
Current Test