Everything About Vehicle Charging System

The charging system has changed little in the last 40 years. The charging system of a vehicle includes an alternator, a regulator which is mounted inside the alternator, and interconnecting wiring. The major role of the charging system is to maintain the charge in the automobile’s battery as well as to provide the main source of electrical energy when the car engine is running. Now if the charging system stops working, there will be depletion in the battery charge, it would then leave the car with a "dead battery."

Are you searching for how the charging system works? Have a look below to understand its working:-

How the current flows in the alternator

An electric current flows in the wire when a magnet is moved past a closed loop of wire. Now just imagine a loop of wire with a magnet inside it. The north pole of the magnet will pass the top of the loop and the south pole will pass the bottom. The current flows in one direction around the loop with both passes. The poles move away, and the current stops flowing until the south pole reaches the top and the north pole the bottom. Now the current starts flowing again, but in the opposite direction. An electromagnet is used by the car alternator to boost the output of the electric current.

How a dynamo works

The electromagnets are stationary in a dynamo and are known as field coils. The current is generated in an armature - another set of coils wound onto a shaft and turning inside the field coils. The principle is similar to that of the alternator, but the current goes to a commutator - a metal ring split into segments that are touched by carbon brushes fitted in spring-loaded guides. A pair of brushes is touched by two segments and the current is fed to them.

Now when the armature turns, the direction of the current is changed. But by then another pair of commutator segments have come under the brushes, and this pair is wired up the other way round – so the current which is coming out starts flowing in a similar direction.

Regulating the current to the battery

A set of diodes rectify the current from an alternator into a direct current which allows current to flow through them in one direction only. The voltage supplied to the battery while charging it should not be too low or too high.

The alternator has a transistor-operated control device that regulates the voltage by supplying more or less current as needed to the electromagnet.

The rectifier and regulator are usually inside the alternator housing, but they might be mounted outside on some alternators.

A dynamo does not require a rectifier -there is a voltage regulator in a separate box, which has relays. The voltage level is controlled by one relay by briefly cutting off the current in the field coils.

The dynamo is prevented by the second relay from overcharging and damaging the battery.

Do you want to know some frequent problems which might occur in the charging system? Take a look below to know some frequent problems with the charging system:

• Issues with the alternator and the charging system might affect your automobile in a lot of ways.
• The ALT or CHARGE indicator light might illuminate.
• The car engine might be very hard to start and then it might crank slowly, or might not crank at all.
• The car battery might demand a lot of water.
• The alternator might make noises.
• The car headlights might suddenly go dim.

There are a few things that might cause your charging system to malfunction. Watch for the following symptoms if you suspect a bad charging system:

1. Loss of power - The foremost symptom of failure in the charging system is the loss of power. You might start facing issues with the dim or flickering lighting inside the cabin or your car headlights, which might become dimmer too. You won’t be able to start the vehicle if the power is lost.

2. Charging system failure light in dash - Some automobiles have a warning light inside the dashboard which starts illuminating when the charging system faces issues or complications. Now with each passing year, these warning systems become advance and more accurate diagnoses are supported by the technology while reading these trouble codes.

3. Battery dies - If there is a dead battery, then it can mean a lot of things. It is safe to assume that it is not just the battery that would run into the issues. If a charge cannot be held by a battery, then there might be a need to get it replaced, however it might not be receiving a charge in the first place, due to which the mechanic might have to follow an alternate route of treatment. The automotive technician must perform a thorough differential diagnosis.

4. Alternator - It is the alternator that recharges the battery when you drive your car. The power which the alternator translates to the car battery is essential for the battery to hold a charge, and when the alternator does not perform its job perfectly, the battery would die.

5. Battery - The power issues might be traced back to a defective battery. It is very essential to inspect the health of the battery and then it should be kept in great working order by utilizing insulation kits, cleaning the terminals, as well as restoring it when it is time for the same.

6. Wiring - The charging system uses the wiring so that it can transfer as well as transmit power, so that’s why the wiring should be kept in proper working order. The wiring which is frayed or defective leads to charging system failure and usually is an easy issue to fix.

If you know which car parts brand suits the best for your Charging System, then it would save a lot of your decision-making time. What we believe is that picking a particular brand is always helps reduce the clutter, and also makes it easier for the customers to find what they are looking for. That’s why we have listed out some top brands for Charging System below:-

• Blue Streak (Hygrade Motor) Charging System Parts
• Bussmann Charging System Parts
• Dorman (OE Solutions) Charging System Parts
• SKF Charging System Parts
• Mr. Gasket Charging System Parts
• Spectre Performance Charging System Parts
• Gates Charging System Parts
• Trans-Dapt Performance Charging System Parts
• Dorman/Conduct-Tite Charging System Parts

If you are like most of us, then you won’t know much about the related components of the car Charging System. Fear not! Here is a quick and easy guide to explain the related parts of the Charging System.

• Alternator
• Alternator Bracket
• Alternator Pulley
• Timing Belt
• Battery
• Battery Cables
• Voltage Regulator
• Fuses
• Relays
• Power Distribution Block