| NOTICE |
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Never operate the alternator without the battery in the circuit. Making or breaking an alternator connection with heavy load on the circuit can cause damage to the regulator. |
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| Illustration 1 | g00285111 |
Alternator components (typical example) (1) Regulator (2) Roller bearing (3) Stator windings (4) Ball bearing (5) Rectifier bridge (6) Field windings (7) Rotor assembly (8) Fan | |
The alternator is driven by a belt from an auxiliary drive at the front right corner of the engine. This alternator is a three-phase, self-rectifying charging unit. Regulator (1) is part of the alternator.
This alternator design has no need for slip rings or brushes. The only movable part is rotor assembly (7). All conductors that carry current are stationary. The following conductors are stationary:
- Field windings (6)
- Stator windings (3)
- Six rectifying diodes
- Regulator circuit components
The rotor assembly has many magnetic poles. Air is between the opposite poles.
The poles have residual magnetism that produces a small amount of magnetic lines of force between the poles. As the rotor assembly begins to turn between field windings (6) and stator windings (3), a small amount of alternating current (AC) is produced in the stator windings. This current is from the small, magnetic lines of force that are made by the residual magnetism of the poles.
The alternating current (AC) is changed to a direct current (DC). The change occurs when the current passes through the diodes of rectifier bridge (5). Most of this current charges the battery. Some of the current also supplies the low amperage circuit. The remainder of the current is sent to the field windings.
The DC current flow through the field windings (wires around an iron core) now increases the strength of the magnetic lines of force. These stronger lines of force increase the amount of AC current that is produced in the stator windings. The increased speed of the rotor assembly also increases the current and voltage output of the alternator.
The voltage regulator is a solid-state, electronic switch. Regulator (1) feels the voltage in the system. The regulator turns on and the regulator turns off many times in one second in order to control the field current to the alternator.
The output voltage from the alternator will now supply the needs of the battery and the other components in the electrical system. No adjustment can be made in order to change the rate of charge on these alternator regulators.