Why is the voltage of an alternator so high?
This wide discrepancy in voltages is due to the fact most alternators are controlled by the ECM or PCM to improve fuel economy. This means that load on the engine is controlled to reduce parasitic loss at the crankshaft. Alternator output is on demand when there are loads detected or the battery needs to be charged.
Can a car alternator have a bad voltage regulator?
Your alternator has a bad voltage regulator. You might try to find a used or rebuilt alternator. Don’t try adding a resistor or whatever. That’s dangerous. It’s reasonably easy to build a regulator in the lab, but getting one to work consistently in the hostile environment of an auto engine is tricky. Too many things can go wrong.
What kind of alternator is used in a car?
These devices almost always take the form of a 3-phase alternator with the magnetic component supplied by an electromagnet on the rotor, and come with a rectifier and regulator pack to convert the higher AC voltage to 12V for the car electrical systems.
How is an alternator voltage regulator with load response control?
Alternator voltage regulator with load response control Features ■IC regulator for 12 V type alternator ■Fixed frequency regulation loop ■130 mhigh side field driver ■Fail safe device with doub le sensing of battery voltage (VB and VS) ■Load response control (LRC) function activates after an initial time delay
What causes an alternator to put out too much voltage?
What causes an alternator to put out too much voltage? If you are getting more than 2 volts above base voltage, most likely your alternator is over-charging the battery or the battery is faulty. Other potential problems are a faulty voltage regulator or a problem in the charging system wiring.. Why is my alternator putting out 16 volts?
What kind of voltage regulator does an alternator use?
Old type DC generators and early vehicle charging systems used a contact-point type voltage regulator. Basically, it consisted of a coil, a set of points and resistors to control alternator voltage and current output. These regulators were replaced by electronic or solid-state voltage regulators.
How does an alternator in a car work?
by Chris Stevenson. The alternator in an automobile functions as a self-generating power plant that produces electricity. It converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). It must supply enough electrical energy to the battery for recharging, along with maintaining sufficient voltage to run the vehicle’s accessories and components.
How is the temperature of an alternator controlled?
Computer Controlled and Temperature Compensated Alternators Newer alternators have computer controlled regulating devices. One such design uses a “temperature compensated” computer sensor. The sensor dictates the amount of voltage an alternator puts out depending upon the temperature.