ALTERNATOR

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Alternating Current Generator Systems

What is the function of the

charging system?
Provide power for all electrical loads

Recharge the starting battery

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 What happens if the charging
systems puts out too much power?
 Voltage goes UP 

What happens if the charging

system puts out too little power?
 Voltage goes DOWN 

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What is the proper system voltage?
13.8 - 14.8 volts

27.4 – 28.4 volts

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 What controls the system voltage?

Voltage regulator
How many volts in a fully
charged battery?
12.6 volts
25.2 volts
After removing surface charge

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 How do you check for an Over-
charging alternator?
Insure battery is fully charged

Run the engine

Turn Off electrical loads System

voltage below…
…14.8 Volts or 28.4 volts
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 What can cause the charging
system to Over-charge?
Defective Voltage Regulator
Volt Drop in Voltage Sensing Wire
Volt Drop in regulator ground
Having regulator inside generator
eliminates volt drop as a cause for
Over-Charging @Autogurukul
 How do you check for an Under-charging
alternator?
Insure battery is fully charged

Run ALL electrical loads

Run engine at 1,500 RPM System voltage

above…
…13.8 Volts or 27.4 volts
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 How else do you check for an
undercharging alternator?
Run engine at 1,500 RPM

Load battery with carbon pile to

13 volts (26 volts)

Measure amps leaving generator

Should be at least 90% of rated

capacity @Autogurukul
 What can cause the charging
system to under-charge?
Loose fan belt

Low engine RPM

Excessive load requirements

(add on accessories) @Autogurukul
 What can cause the charging system to
under-charge?
Short driving trips

Defective generator Defective voltage

regulator Defective wiring

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Understand the A/C Generator
(Alternator)
Identify the following components
Rotor
Stator
Slip rings
Brushes
Diodes or Rectifier

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Rotor, creates spinning magnetic field

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Stator, creates alternating current

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Slip Rings, allow field current into the rotor

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Brushes, allow field current into rotor

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High tech brush installation tool

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 Rotor (Field)

What does the Rotor do?

Creates a spinning magnetic

field inside the A/C generator

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Rotor (Field)

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Rotor (Field)

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 How do you test the rotor?

Slip rings must be clean and smooth

Field windings must not be open circuit

Field windings must not be shorted

to ground
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Clean slip rings

Burned slip rings

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3O.L1 Good Rotor

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O0.L3 Bad Rotor

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 Stator Windings

What does the Stator do?

Creates electrical power when a

magnetic field is moved past it

Creates power to recharge

battery and run electrical loads @Autogurukul
 What does the Stator do?

Creates an Alternating Current

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Voltage Trace for One Stator Winding

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Voltage Trace for Three Stator Windings

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 How do you test the Stator?

Test for open circuits in the windings

Test for grounded windings

Visually inspect for burning or

overheated windings @Autogurukul
0O.L3

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 How does the A/C current
change into D/C current
Diodes are used for
Full Wave Rectification

Diodes are often called rectifiers

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A/C
D/C
Full Wave Rectification …
... one stator winding
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A/C
D/C
Full Wave Rectification …
... one stator winding
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Full Wave Rectification …
... one stator winding
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Full Wave Rectification …
... three stator windings
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Actual voltage trace of each stator
winding after full wave rectification
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voltage trace on oscilloscope
(diode pattern)
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Stator

Rectifier
(Diode pack)

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Positive Diode B+
Heat-sink Negative Diode MainCharge
Terminal
Heat-sink

Voltage
Regulator
Stator Wires

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Test the electrical integrity of the diodes

Use an A/C voltmeter, or oscilloscope while

the alternator is loaded

Turn on accessories, or put 40 amp draw on

carbon pile

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Here is a normal diode pattern
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Here is a normal diode pattern
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Open diode pattern @Autogurukul
Shorted diode pattern
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 Normal diode pattern

Open diode pattern

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Shorted diode pattern
Are these good or bad diodes?
Practice and it gets easy to spot
defective diode patterns!

Scope set for A/C voltage @Autogurukul

 Practice with Diode Patterns
• Different alternator diodes give slightly different
diode patterns

• If you look at many different alternator diode

patterns you will learn to quickly spot bad diodes

• Defective diodes can cause many engine

performance problems

• Do not forget to load the system

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How can you increase the amperage
coming out of the generator?
Increase engine RPM
(This is limited to about 2500 RPM)

Increase the rotor’s magnetic field strength

Use a Delta stator winding

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DeltYastator = hloigwheerroouuttppuutt

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 How does the voltage regulator
control the A/C generator?
The regulator will turn on/off current
to the field windings (rotor)

Increasing current to the rotor…

…will increase generator output
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 How does the voltage regulator
control the A/C generator?
Regulators are wired to the Ground
side of the Rotor in an A type circuit
c

and wired to the Battery side of the

Rotor in a B type circuit
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“A” circuit regulator
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“A” circuit regulator
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“B” circuit regulator
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“B” circuit regulator
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Voltage regulators monitor

Voltage

Temperature

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 14 V

80 o F
1V

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 15 V

80 o F
2V

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 15 V

20 o F
1V

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Cold = higher volt drop

 16 V

20 o F
2V

Cold = higher
volt drop across
thermistor
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Voltage should:
increase when cold,
decrease when hot.

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Explain how charging system indicators work
Idiot light

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Explain how charging system indicators work
Idiot light
Voltmeter
Ammeter

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 Diagnose Over/Under Charging
Insure there is no Voltage drop in wiring harness

Undercharge is bad alternator or regulator

Overcharge is bad regulator

IF there are no bad wires or connections

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 Field is ON
Alternator charging

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 Field is OFF
Alternator not charging

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 Voltage too high
causing Overcharge

Field is ON
Alternator charging

Overcharge caused by
volt drop in wires

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Regulator “sees”
alternator voltage
Volt Drop in battery cables
will cause undercharging

Field is OFF
Alternator not charging

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 Test the Charging System
• Test belts, battery condition and wiring to ensure
trouble free power

• Test for Overcharging

(with full charge on battery)

• Test for Undercharging

• Test for A/C voltage

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Thank You

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