Charging Principles

In this presentation you will:

 examine charging system components and their operation
Next >
Introduction

A battery alone cannot supply the power required by the electrical

systems in a vehicle without being re-charged.

Most modern vehicles use an alternator to provided power to the

electrical systems and charge the battery.
Next >
The Components of the Charging System

The charging system

includes three main
components:

 The engine

 The alternator

 The battery

The alternator maintains

the battery charge and
helps to power the
electrical systems.

It can only do this while

the engine is running. Next >
The Function of the Charging System

Early charging systems

used a DC generator to
perform the charging
function.

A modern vehicle uses

an AC generator, also
known as an alternator.

Electricity is generated
in the stationary stator
windings by a spinning AC generator or alternator
DC generator
magnetic field.

Typical alternators use a

rotor with an energized
field winding and iron
finger poles. Next >
Charging System Operation

During cranking, the

battery supplies electricity
Alternator
to the starter motor. pulley

Once the engine is

Crankshaft
running, the charging pulley
system takes over and
supplies electricity to Drive belt

all systems.

The alternator pulley is

turned by the drive belt
that is connected around
the crankshaft pulley.

Next >
Question 1

When does the charging system NOT function?

A) When the engine is not running

B) When the engine is running

C) When the car is stationary at traffic lights

D) When braking hard

Next >
Question 1

When does the charging system NOT function?

A) When the engine is not running

B) When the engine is running

C) When the car is stationary at traffic lights

D) When braking hard

Next >
Charging System Operation

As the drive belt turns, the

alternator supplies
Alternator
electricity that is regulated pulley
to approximately 14 volts.

Crankshaft
The battery voltage pulley
(approximately 12 volts)
is lower than the output Drive belt

voltage of the alternator.

Battery
Current
14
12 volts direction
LOAD
This enables the
alternator to charge the
battery while powering
other electrical systems.
Engine and
Alternator
Alternator Off
Running Alternator
Next >
Question 2

What makes the alternator pulley turn?

A) Electricity from the battery

B) Crankshaft movement via the pulley drive belt

C) Air circulation through the vents

D) Electricity from the other vehicle electrical systems

Next >
Question 2

What makes the alternator pulley turn?

A) Electricity from the battery

B) Crankshaft movement via the pulley drive belt

C) Air circulation through the vents

D) Electricity from the other vehicle electrical systems

Next >
Single-Phase Voltage Induction

Stator
In a simple alternator, Rotating
winding
magnetic field
the poles of a rotating
magnet move past a
stationary winding
known as the stator.
The voltage reaches
a peak when the
poles are closest to
the winding

As the north and south AC voltage

magnet poles pass the
Stator
stator, they induce an winding
alternating voltage.
N
Rotating
S magnet

The shape of the N

electromagnet in an
alternator produces S
alternating north and North N South
pole pole
south poles around piece piece
the circumference. Next >
Three-Phase Voltage Induction

The stator has three sets

of windings. They are
spaced to provide three
sine wave voltages that
are 120° apart.

As the magnet rotates,

it induces voltages in all
three stator windings.
Stator

The combined voltages

Delta
produce a stable 3-phase
output.
Three
outputs Star

The stator windings are

arranged in either a star Soft iron Enamel copper
or a delta configuration. laminations wire windings Next >
Question 3

What is the angle between the three sine wave voltages that are generated
by the stator windings?

Next >
Question 3

What is the angle between the three sine wave voltages that are generated
by the stator windings?

120⁰

Next >
Diodes and Rectification

A diode allows current to Anode + – Cathode

flow in one direction only.

For a diode to conduct, the Anode voltage

voltage at its anode has to Diode +
be 0.7 V higher than at its
-
cathode. AC Load Cathode voltage
voltage +

-
This circuit shows how a
diode conducts only
when the positive part of
an AC voltage is applied Output voltage
to its anode. +

D4 -
AC
D1
If four diodes are used, voltage
D2
current can also flow during D3
Load
the negative parts of the AC
voltage, producing an output
with no missing cycles. Next >
Alternator Components – The Rectifier Bridge

The rectifier bridge Stator terminals

converts 3-phase
Positive
voltage into DC voltage. diodes

Negativ
e
Six or eight diodes diodes ‘B’ terminal
can be used in this
conversion process.
Heat sink

A rectifier bridge with 6 diodes

Half of the diodes are
used on the positive
side of the bridge and 1 2 3 +
1
half are used on the
negative side.

The diodes are 3

2
mounted on a heat sink.
4 5 6 -
Next >
Three-Phase Rectification
+
For full wave
1 2 3
rectification, two
1
diodes are connected N
to each stator lead.
2 3
S

4 5 6 Theoretical DC
The conversion process output: three
positive voltages
creates three positive -
voltages.

They are combined to

form a single DC Stator output
voltage with ripple.
Battery
voltage

Actual DC output with

battery connected
Next >
Rotor Field Winding Self Excitation

Rectifier bridge ‘No charge’

+ indicator
lamp

Rotating field
winding + Ignition
switch
Rotor Stator

- Battery

-
Field
diodes (3)

Self Excitation Circuit

An alternator uses a rotating electromagnet instead of a rotating permanent

magnet. It is called the field winding.
Initially, the field winding needs to be energized by the battery via
the ‘no charge’ indicator lamp. The lamp is on. Next >
Rotor Field Winding Self Excitation

Rectifier bridge ‘No charge’

+ indicator
lamp

Rotating field
winding + Ignition
switch
Rotor Stator

- Battery

-
Field
diodes (3)

Self Excitation Circuit

When the engine starts, the alternator’s output voltage increases until it rises
above battery voltage.

As soon as the alternator is able to provide its own rotor field current,
the ‘no charge’ lamp goes out. This is called self excitation. Next >
Alternator Components – Voltage Regulator

Voltage Regulator

The current supplied to the field winding is regulated. This keeps the output
voltage constant as the alternator’s rotational speed changes.
The voltage regulator senses the stator's output and changes the
field winding current to maintain the required 14 volts. Next >
Typical Voltage Regulator Circuit

The regulated output +

of 14 V is set by the
voltage across resistor R1 R3 D Rotor
F
R1, zener diode ZD,
ZD
and transistor T1. T2
T1 ON < 14 V
R2 OFF

-
When the voltage at
the battery is below Regulating Circuit
14 V, the zener diode
does not conduct.

Transistor T1 is off
and transistor T2 is on.

Current is able to flow

through the rotor.
Next >
Typical Voltage Regulator Circuit

When the alternator +

voltage reaches 14 V,
the zener diode starts R1 R3 D Rotor
F
to conduct.
ZD
T2
T1 < 14 V
R2 OFF
ON OFF
ON

Transistor T1 is on, -
transistor T2 is off, and
no current flows Regulating Circuit
through the rotor.

The transistors switch

very rapidly, providing a
stable voltage of 14 V.

Next >
Typical Alternator Circuit

Stator Rectifier

Regulator Field winding ‘No charge’

(rotor) lamp
Ignition
switch

Battery

Here is a complete alternator circuit, where the regulator is sensing the

voltage at the battery.

Some alternators sense voltage at the field winding, or at their

output terminal. Next >
Summary

In this presentation you have seen:

 charging systems and how they operate

End