Chapter 30 Charging System Fundamentals

The Charging System

The Charging Process Alternators require power to create power* *Never test an alternator by disconnecting the battery while the engine is running Current must flow through the alternator’s coil to create the electromagnetic field required to generate electricity Generators do not require power to create power once the field circuit has been energized

The Charging Process Continued… Current is sent to the alternator’s coil, located inside of the rotor assembly, creating a strong magnetic field. The engine spins the rotor, inducing electrical current in the stator’s 3 windings The electrical current travels from the stator’s 3 windings into the wye (Y) The Y connects the stator to the diode trio and the rectifier bridge, converting AC into DC The voltage regulator maintains a 13.5-15.5 charging voltage into the battery

The Alternator

Rotor, Stator, & Windings (Rear View)

Diode Bridge

How Is a Generator Different Than an Alternator? How many parts can You Identify here and in the next 2 slides?

Using The VAT-40 to Test Voltage & Alternator Output