1. Alternator
Alternator generates nearly equal amount of current to operate the electrical devices and to charge the battery when the engine starts running in the vehicle. The alternator uses the principle of electromagnetism to produce current.
The main components of the alternator are:
Stator: Stator is mounted to the body of the alternator and remains stationary. The stator contains 3 sets of wires that have many loops are each and are evenly distributed to form a three phase system.
Rotor: Rotor is connected directly to the alternator pulley and the drive belt spins the pulley, which in turn spins the rotor. The rotor contains the powerful magnet. Magnets in the rotor are actually electromagnets and not a permanent magnets. This property of magnets allow us to control the required voltage. The alternator produces by regulating the amount of current that creates the magnetic field in the rotor and protect the circuits in automobile from excessive voltage.
When the rotor spins inside the stator, current passed to the rotor causes the rotor to become magnetized. The magnets spin past the three sets of wire loops in the stator and produce a constantly reversing voltage in the three wires. In more words, producing alternating current in the stator.
The current generated in the stator coil alternating current and it cannot be used directly for the electric devices in the vehicle. Hence use rectifier to convert the alternating current to direct current.
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2. IC regulator |
A | IC regulator |
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The IC regulator is in-built into the alternator and used to regulate the alternator voltage to maintain the constant voltage. When changes in the alternator speed, or amount of electric current flowing into the electric devices.
The voltage regulator controls the field current applied to the spinning rotor inside the alternator. When there is no current applied to the field, there is no voltage produced from the alternator. When the battery is weak, the electromotive force (voltage) is not strong enough to hold back the current from the alternator trying to recharge the battery. As the battery reaches a state of full charge, the electromotive force becomes strong enough to oppose the current flow from the alternator. When more electrical power is used, the electromotive force to be reduced and alternator amperage increase.
3. Battery
A battery is an electro-chemical device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. Battery acts as a power source and supplies direct current to the electric devices installed in the vehicle when the engine is in off condition. However once the engine starts running electric current generated by the alternator is used to charge the battery.
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4. Warning lamp
Warning lamp in the instrument cluster glows if there is any malfunction in the charging system and when there is no voltage produced by the alternator.
The event code for various errors in each of the control units listed below:
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Control unit FMR/CPC (A-003) |
Event code | Description |
1120 | D+ connection is short to bat positive |
1125 | Connect D+ at pin X4 18/3 is implausible or has open or short circuit to ground |
3031 | Terminal 30 over voltage |
3032 | Terminal 30 under voltage |
Control unit programmable logic device (A-002) |
Event code | Description |
7542 | Battery voltage too high |
7543 | Battery voltage too low |
Instrument cluster (A-008) |
Event code | Description |
1941 | Over voltage at terminal 30 |
1942 | Under voltage at terminal 30 |
5. Ignition Switch |
B | Alternator |
C | CPC |
D | Instrument cluster |
E | Warning lamp |
F | Ignition |
G | Battery |
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Ignition switch is used to start the engine, causing the alternator to generate electric current.
When the ignition switch is turned to ON position, alternator generates the electrical current to charge the battery.