10/14/23, 4:05 PM Alternator Wiring Diagram: A Complete Tutorial | EdrawMax

EdrawMax Features Templates Blog Try It Free Buy Now

Flowchart Join 2023 Edraw Special Sales. Get 22% Off before it's gone >>

Floor Plan

EdrawMax
UML Diagram Diagram
Software
Electrical Diagram

Visualize,
Mind Mapinnovate, and collaborate with
EdrawMax
Organizational
Chart
Create more than 280 types of diagrams
P&ID
Supply more than 1500 built-in templates and 26,000
symbols
Gantt Chart
Share your work and collaborate with your team in
any file format
Infographic

More Diagrams

Free Download

Home Knowledge Alternator Wiring Diagram: A Complete Tutorial

Alternator Wiring
Diagram: A
Complete Tutorial

Allison Lynch
Originally published Dec 26, 22, 7 min(s)
updated Jul 26, 23

You may not have heard the word alternator but you might be
aware of the word alternating current or AC. Alternator allows
you to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy
especially in motor vehicles. An alternator wiring diagram will
help you get the basic know-how of the circuit and how the
components are linked together in a circuit. So, without further
ado, let's dive in. Do you want to know more about what is
alternator wiring diagram and how to make your own
alternator wiring diagram? After reading this article, you can do
this with the help of EdrawMax, an All-in-One tool.

In this article

https://www.edrawsoft.com/article/alternator-wiring-diagram.html#3 1/7
10/14/23, 4:05 PM Alternator Wiring Diagram: A Complete Tutorial | EdrawMax

01 What is an Alternator?
EdrawMax Features Templates Blog Try It Free Buy Now
02 How does the Alternator Work?

Flowchart 03 Alternator Wiring Diagrams

04 Use EdrawMax for Wiring Diagram Creation

Floor Plan

UML Diagram

Electrical Diagram
What is an Alternator?
Mind Map
An alternator is a maintenance-free yet the most important
Organizational unit of the car's engine. It generates electricity and functions to
Chart provide electrical supply to cars and recharges the battery. The
alternator works by converting mechanical energy into
P&ID electrical energy from alternating current to the direct current.

Gantt Chart The primary function of an alternator is to work jointly with the
battery to supply energy to the electrical components, i.e.,
Infographic lights, fan, windshield wipers, etc. It changes the alternating
current into a direct current and regulates the voltage to meet
More Diagrams the required minimum power for each unit.

The alternator comprises a cooling fan, voltage regulator, rotor,

stator, diode bridge rectifier, slip rings, slip ring end bearings,
carbon brushes, pulley. The rotor and stator are the central
units for electricity generation, while the rectifier helps in
converting AC to DC. All the components work jointly to monitor
and regulate the power to match the energy needs of different
components of the car's engine.

https://www.edrawsoft.com/article/alternator-wiring-diagram.html#3 2/7
10/14/23, 4:05 PM Alternator Wiring Diagram: A Complete Tutorial | EdrawMax

Image Source: Engineering Learn

EdrawMax Features Templates Blog Try It Free Buy Now

Flowchart
How Does the Alternator
Floor Plan
Work?
UML Diagram
The functioning of an alternator is straightforward. A serpentine
Electrical Diagram belt that rests on a pulley is attached with an alternator. When
the engine is ignited, the pulley moves and rotates the rotor
Mind Map shafts attached to the alternator. The rotor is an electromagnet
with two revolving metal slip rings and carbon brushes
Organizational attached to its shaft. Due to the rotation, a small amount of
Chart electricity is supplied to the rotor, which is conducted to the
stator.
P&ID
The magnets on the rotor are placed in such a way that they
Gantt Chart pass over the copper wire loops in the stator. This creates a
magnetic field around the coils. When the rotor spins, the
Infographic magnetic field is disturbed, and this, as a result, generates
electricity.
More Diagrams
However, the current generated is AC has to be converted to
DC before use; therefore, it is channeled to the alternator's
diode rectifier. The rectifier changes the two-way current into a
one-way flow-direct current. The voltage then passes on to the
voltage regulator that steps up or steps down the voltage to
match the needs of different units of the car.

Tips: Wiring Connections

Since an alternator is connected to so many

components, it exhibits a complex wiring system. The
main wirings include the exciter wire, positive and
negative cables. Exciter wire is connected to the L
terminal of an alternator and is used to turn on the
voltage regulator. Excitor wire is needed to generate the
voltage required for the alternator to start running.

The positive and negative cables are small and

connected to the respective terminals of the battery. The
alternator also shows a connection with the ‘battery
charging wire.’ It only charges the battery and does not
supply energy to any other unit. The alternator also has
an ignition input wire that is connected from the
alternator to the key switch. The ignition wire turns on the
voltage regulator.

Free Download Free Download

For Win 7 or later(64-bit) For macOS 10.14 or later

Alternator Wiring
Diagrams
Below given are some alternator wiring diagrams that are used
for different purposes. Let's have a look at their connections.

https://www.edrawsoft.com/article/alternator-wiring-diagram.html#3 3/7
10/14/23, 4:05 PM Alternator Wiring Diagram: A Complete Tutorial | EdrawMax

3 Wire Alternator Wiring Diagram

EdrawMax Features Templates Blog Try It Free Buy Now

Flowchart

Floor Plan

UML Diagram

Electrical Diagram

Mind Map

Organizational
Chart
This is a three-wire alternating wiring diagram showing the
connections between the different components of a circuit. The
P&ID
circuit comprises three main wires: battery positive cable,
voltage sensing wire, and ignition wire. The ignition input wire is
Gantt Chart
attached to the engine. It conducts electricity from the engine
to the alternator while the voltage detecting cable senses the
Infographic
voltage and is attached to the rectifier.
More Diagrams
Such alternators are multi-purposed and have built-in voltage
rectifiers for power sensing. Unlike the one-wire alternators,
they can generate and rectify electricity in one circuit. Using a
three-wire alternator ensures regulated voltage for all
components.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

External Electromechanical Voltage

Regulator

Electromechanical regulators coil the voltage sensing cable

into an electromagnet. This creates a magnetic field around
the magnet and attracts the ferrous block towards itself. Such
circuits have three electromagnetic switches- cutout relays,
regulator and, current regulator. The cutout relay connects the
battery to the alternator while the regulator and current
regulator switch regulate the voltage output by controlling the
alternator's field circuit.

The electromechanical circuits are important for the AC

stabilizing circuits; however, they are not used in production
vehicles due to their inefficient relaying system.

https://www.edrawsoft.com/article/alternator-wiring-diagram.html#3 4/7
10/14/23, 4:05 PM Alternator Wiring Diagram: A Complete Tutorial | EdrawMax

Free Download
EdrawMax Features Templates Blog Try It Free Buy Now

For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Flowchart

Floor Plan
PCM Controlled Wiring Diagram
UML Diagram

Electrical Diagram

Mind Map

Organizational
Chart

P&ID

Gantt Chart

Infographic

More Diagrams

The powertrain control module voltage regulation circuits are

an advanced type of alternator that uses internal modules to
control the field circuit of an alternator. The PCM regulates the
current flow by examining the data from the body control
module (BCM) and understanding the charging needs of a
system.

Whenever the voltage is below the desired value, the modules

are triggered, and it changes the on-time of current flow
through the coil. As a result, the system output is changed to
adjust the needs of the system. The PCR-controlled alternators
are simple yet very efficient, generating the desired voltages.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

image / video 16:9

https://www.edrawsoft.com/article/alternator-wiring-diagram.html#3 5/7
10/14/23, 4:05 PM Alternator Wiring Diagram: A Complete Tutorial | EdrawMax

EdrawMax FeaturesUseTemplates
EdrawMax Blog for Wiring Try It Free Buy Now

Flowchart
Diagram Creation
Alternators are very useful for keeping the car running when
Floor Plan
the engine is ignited. Alternators involve complex wiring, and
UML Diagram the wires must be connected to the correct units and terminals.
This can be simplified by creating alternator wiring diagrams.
Electrical Diagram
Wiring diagrams provide a visual representation of the
connections and physical layout of the circuit. With a clear
Mind Map
visualization of each component’s wiring connections and
Organizational position, it becomes easier to create circuits and connect the
Chart alternator correctly. Creating circuits with proper wiring is
necessary to supply a proper voltage to each unit, so none gets
P&ID over or underpowered.

Gantt Chart Create wiring diagrams is simple and exciting if you have
EdrawMax. EdrawMax is a user-friendly and innovative software
Infographic that allows users to get creative and draw the most beautiful
diagrams in just a few clicks. The software has a gamut of
More Diagrams editing tools and a wide range of highly customizable symbol
library that offers the freedom of creating whatever you want.
Choose from the built-in templates or get innovative and
design your own original diagrams from scratch. With an
intuitive interface and extensive editing options, express your
creativity and design helpful alternator wiring diagrams.

EdrawMax
EdrawMax is a powerful, all-in-
one, and yet easy-to-use
Download
diagramming tool that enables
users to visualize the ideas
effortlessly.

EdrawMax provides beginners and pros the cutting-edge

functionalities to build professional-looking diagrams easier,
faster, and cheaper! It allows you to create more than 280
types of diagrams and should be an excellent Visio alternative.

Allison Lynch
Share article:
Jul 26, 23

You May Also Like

Get Started Support Solution Company Follow Us

Download FAQ Sales About Us

Store Starter Guide Marketing Review Us

Business Video Tutorial Consulting Subscribe

https://www.edrawsoft.com/article/alternator-wiring-diagram.html#3 6/7
10/14/23, 4:05 PM Alternator Wiring Diagram: A Complete Tutorial | EdrawMax

Education Contact Support Engineering Affiliate Program

EdrawMax Features Templates Blog Language Try It Free Buy Now
Human Resources Find Reseller

Flowchart EdrawMax for EDU Become Our Reseller

Floor Plan

UML Diagram
Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Cookies Policy License Agreement Refund Policy
Electrical Diagram
Copyright © 2023 Edrawsoft. All rights reserved.

Mind Map

Organizational
Chart

P&ID

Gantt Chart

Infographic

More Diagrams

https://www.edrawsoft.com/article/alternator-wiring-diagram.html#3 7/7