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Chapter 08-Bennet
Chapter 08-Bennet
Charging Systems
Objectives (1 of 2)
• Full-field an alternator.
• Measure AC leakage in the charging circuit.
• Verify the performance of an alternator.
• Use Intelli-check to assess charging circuit
performance.
• Disassemble and reassemble a Delcotron
40SI alternator.
Charging Systems
Alternator Construction (1 of 2)
Alternator Construction (2 of 2)
• To generate electricity, the alternator uses this basic
law of physics:
– When magnetic lines of force move across a
conductor (such as a wire or bundle of wires), an
electrical current is produced in the conductor.
• Actual current flow induced depends on several
factors:
– The strength of the magnetic field
– The speed of the wire passing through the field
– The size and number of wires
Rotor
• The rotor is the only moving component within the
alternator.
• It is responsible for producing the rotating magnetic
field.
• The rotor consists of a coil, two pole pieces, and a
shaft.
• The magnetic field is produced when current flows
through the coil; this coil is simply a series of
windings wrapped around an iron core.
• Increasing or decreasing the current flow through the
coil varies the strength of the magnetic field, which in
turn defines alternator output.
Slip Rings and Brushes
• The wiring of the rotor coil is connected to
slip rings.
• The slip rings and brushes conduct current to
the rotor.
• Most alternators have two slip rings mounted
directly on the rotor shaft; they are insulated
from the shaft and from each other.
– A spring-loaded carbon brush is located on
each slip ring to carry the current to and from
the rotor windings.
Stator
• The stator is made up of many conductors, or wires,
into which the spinning rotor induces voltage.
• The wires are wound into slots in the alternator
frame, with each wire forming several coils spaced
evenly around the frame.
• The wires are grouped into three separate bundles,
or windings.
• The coils of the three windings are staggered in the
alternator frame so that the electrical pulses created
in each coil will also be staggered.
• This produces an even flow of current out of the
alternator.
Alternator Operation
Voltage Regulators
• Microprocessors and electronic sensors and
switches are easily damaged by voltage spikes and
high voltage levels.
• The voltage regulator receives battery voltage as an
input.
– This is called the sensing voltage; it allows the
regulator to sense and monitor the battery voltage
level.
– When the battery voltage rises to a particular level
(approximately 13.5 volts), the regulator will turn the
field current off.
Types of Field Circuits
• The field circuit, which is controlled by the voltage
regulator, might be one of two types.
– “A” circuit
– “B” circuit
• With an “A” circuit, the regulator is on the ground
side of the rotor. The regulator turns the field circuit
off and on by controlling a ground.
• With a “B” type, voltage regulator is positioned on the
feed side of the alternator. Battery voltage is fed
through the regulator to the field circuit, which is then
grounded in the alternator.
Charging System Failures and Testing