Alternator

An alternator is an electrical generator that transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy in the form of alternating power. Because of cost reasons as well as simplicity, there are many alternators that would use a stationary armature to the rotating magnetic field.

Do you know how the alternators function? All you have to do is look below and then you'll be able to understand it all. Many people may start to believe that it is the battery that would power the electrics in your car, but that is not the case. The car battery provides the electricity that is required for the starter motor to start the car. Now when the car was running, the alternator would produce the energy for feeding the electrical system and charging the battery. The alternator was previously known as a generator and it functions similarly. Now in this situation, the internal combustion engine of the car would spin the pulleys below the bonnet, which would then turn the pulley on the alternator and then generate the electricity. It is the alternator that would operate with the car battery to provide the electricity to the vehicle's electronic components. Alternator output is known as direct current (DC). When the alternator pulley would rotate, alternating current (AC) would pass through a magnetic field, and then electrical current would be produced. It would then be transformed via the rectifier into DC. With the technological advancement, the alternators have changed a lot over the last 50 years. Previously the alternators were only used to produce current that was regulated by an external regulator. The built-in regulator was introduced in the 1990s that used the warning light to arouse the alternator and then start the charging process. The new vehicles with the advent of smart charging systems and CANBUS systems, which are now commonly used, follow a load request style charging system. The control unit for these systems is the engine control unit (ECU). If the vehicle were to demand more load, then the ECU would send a signal to the alternator asking it to start charging. The alternator would have to deal with the different electrical loads and their charging rate is adjusted accordingly.