Alternator

Powering up your vehicle doesn't only mean that you increase it's engine performance, hooking it up with nifty gadgets and dressing it up cool. You really need to give it more power. Charge up its alternator.
It may be true that your alternator converts all the mechanical energy made by your engine into electricity to run all your vehicle's electrical devices, increasing its range can really cause a difference. By using an alternating current (in modern cars but older models use DC generators or a direct current), an alternator can charge your car's batteries. But at the same time, it also powers various electronic and electrical components of your car. Alternators may be just some small electrical generator but it can really pack a punch for your car.
Your generic alternator is made up of four parts: the rotor, the stator, the diode packs and the voltage regulator. The rotor is a rotating magnet that rotates around the stator, which a core of iron wrapped in copper wires. These rotor-stator pair rotate within each other and create an alternating current which would be converted by the diode packs indirect current that can be used to charge the battery and power up other electrical components of the vehicle. The voltage regulator controls and maintains the amount of electricity that is made by the alternator.
Powering up a your car's alternator doesn't only mean to have it rebuilt. It has to be properly maintained and checked for defective parts. But to really give it a little boost, alternators have to be upgraded. You really need to buy a performance alternator to complement all your car's energy consumption.

Electrify and power-up all important automobile systems in your ride with a high-performing auto alternator.
Electrically operated gadgets usually have batteries that can be charged to keep them operable. Automobiles are pretty much like them, only they can't be plugged in a socket for charging. What they are equipped with is an alternator, a device that converts mechanical energy to electricity.
A car alternator is engine-driven, so it starts charging your battery and powering the rest of the electrical system when you start your vehicle. It has a small pulley that lets it double the speed of the engine. This way, it can make more output than usual when the engine is set to idle. And to convert the alternating current to direct current, the alternator uses a set of rectifiers or diode bridges. It is also equipped with a three-phase winding to ensure low-ripple direct current. The construction of alternators varies according to vehicle type, production, and application. Modern alternators already have a voltage regulator to adjust alternator output. Their efficiency also varies according to their size and speed. Smaller ones can achieve as much as 50-62% while bigger ones definitely have better efficiency.
If necessary, you can replace alternator for an even better performance. Nowadays when even the most difficult-to-find auto parts can already be easily acquired, auto maintenance and upgrade are already easier and more convenient.

Sure, you can use your car's battery when the alternator goes bad. The battery's reserved energy can definitely keep the engine running, but there's a price you have to pay: you have to turn off the radio and the air-conditioning. Imagine having to drive without all these creature comforts. So to avoid the hassle, remember to keep your vehicle's alternator in good shape. The alternator is responsible for converting the engine's mechanical energy to the electrical energy that powers many vehicle accessories (such as the windshield wipers, the radio, and the headlights). The alternator is capable of producing a steady stream of alternating current, so that you can use your vehicle's accessories even when the engine is idling. And because of the alternator's tough job, there will come a time when you'll need a new alternator for your vehicle. And when that happens, APD is here to help. We have the topnotch alternators in the industry.


• Aftermarket alternators are available at our extensive catalogs, should you want a high-performance unit.

• Premium-quality replacement alternators are relatively inexpensive, so there is no reason for you to opt for remanufactured or rebuilt units.

• Alternators are basically easy to access and can be replaced even by an amateur mechanic.
 

Summary

• The alternator is a compact generator primarily consisted of a magnetic coil and a metal rod.
• It is typically found in front of your car’s engine, with a pulley attached to the crankshaft via an alternator belt.
• The alternator features an aluminum housing for a few reasons: it is lightweight and does not magnetize.
• Terminals, finger poles, slip rings, diode rectifier, voltage regulator, among others make up the alternator.
• The alternator is connected to the engine via an alternator belt, which links it to the crankshaft. This connection converts the piston’s linear movement into rotational movements.
• If you shop at CarParts.com, you can purchase an alternator replacement with discounted price for as low as $6 to $2,000. 
• Maintaining a properly-working alternator has a lot of benefits contributing to cabin comfort, driving performance, ride quality, and saving money.

In able for the lights, air conditioning unit, and other power features in your car to function without draining the battery, car manufacturers integrate a charging system. This charging system does not only power the electric components in your car, it also recharges your battery as the car moves. You’ve heard it before and a lot could go wrong if it fails completely. Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the automotive alternator.

What is an alternator?

The alternator is a compact generator primarily consisted of a magnetic coil and a metal rod. It’s function is to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy to bypass the battery in powering the electrical components when the car is moving. It is typically found in front of your car’s engine, with a pulley attached to the crankshaft via an alternator belt. It’s almost as big as a football and features various components inside.

The alternator features an aluminum housing for a few reasons: it is lightweight and does not magnetize. Aluminum is known for dissipating intense heat levels unlike steel. Since it can’t be magnetize, it remains neutral despite the magnetic field produced by the rotor assembly.

Parts of an alternator 

The alternator may look simple on the outside, but you’ll have to wait until you get to see what’s inside. Beyond the housing are components needed for the conversion of energy, such as the rotor field windings, diode rectifier, voltage regulator, among others. Here’s an in-depth introduction to an alternator’s rotor assembly parts.

Terminals

Most alternators have four terminals that are labelled with letters. The terminal “B” is the alternator’s main output and connects to the car’s battery. Like terminal B, terminal “S” also connects to the battery but for measuring its voltage The terminal “IG”, on the other hand, is connected to the ignition switch , while the “L” links to the warning light. Some alternators have another terminal that serves as the full-field bypass for the voltage regulator.

Internal cooling fan

Most modern alternators are integrated with internal cooling fan to boost the efficiency. You’ll be able to easily distinguish older alternators because they have their cooling fans installed outside the aluminum housing. The fans spin as the rotor shaft gets spun by the crankshaft, meaning it runs on mechanical power. 

Diode rectifier

Also known as the bridge rectifier, this assembly converts the alternating current from the alternator to direct current. Direct current is the charge used by the battery and all other electrical components. Bridge rectifiers use semiconductor diodes to convert AC to DC. These diodes are one-way gates, meaning they allow current to flow from only one direction, thus allowing the conversion of AC to DC.

Voltage regulator

A voltage regulator is responsible for controlling the voltage being generated by the alternator when recharging the battery. It does this by forcing the alternator to keep a steady voltage between 13.5 V and 14.5 V. These are most ideal for charging the battery without damaging electrical circuits, such as your vehicle’s wiring system.

Slip rings

Slip rings are electrically conductive bands that are mounted on the shaft and are connected to the rotor assembly through windings. The slip ring’s outer surface is in constant contact with the brushes. This is essential in providing direct current excitation to the alternator’s rotor.

Brushes

Carbon brushes are electrical contacts that conducts electrical current between the slip rings. These brushes are made durable enough to last for several years. They come with wear markings so you’d know when to replace them before they even begin to fail. Experts suggest that you replace them when they’re halfway worn out.

Rotor field winding

The field winding is an insulated current-carrying coil on a field magnet. It produces the right necessary magnetic field intensity to produce an electrical excitation in the alternator.

Finger poles

These are the large triangular pillars surrounding the rotor field winding. These poles are placed with alternating north and south charges that help in creating a magnetic field around the core when the rotor spins.

Stator

The stator consists of multiple coils wound through an iron ring and is fixed to the alternator housing. It is a stationary part of the alternator, in which the rotor turns. When the rotor turns within the stator, a magnetic field is produced and travels through the stator windings. This process is what produces the electrical current in the windings. Each stator winding is spaced 120 degrees apart from one another, which then results in three separate sets or phases.

What does an alternator do and how does it work?

A vehicle’s charging system consists of the battery, alternator, and voltage regulator. The alternator takes the battery’s task as soon as mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy. This energy is used to power the electrical components of the car, as well as in recharging the battery. So, how does it do it?

The alternator is connected to the engine via an alternator belt, which links it to the crankshaft. This connection converts the piston’s linear movement into rotational movements. When the crankshaft begins to spin, the alternator belt transfers the movement to the alternator’s rotor shaft. The motion creates electromagnetism through the stator and rotor, which it uses to produce AC power. The charging standards need to be between 13.5 V to 14.2 V, which, by the way, can vary depending on whether two or more electrical features are active at the same time.

How much does an alternator cost?

An alternator replacement cost around $40 to $2,600 in the market. If you shop at CarParts.com, you can purchase an alternator replacement with discounted price for as low as $6 to $2,000. Prices vary depending on the brand, product’s amperage output, and whether it’s remanufactured or new. Alternators in the list also feature different pulley types with varying numbers of grooves. To get a narrowed-down list of products specific to your vehicle, you may indicate the year, make, and model of your car in the filter tab.

Importance of replacing a worn alternator

Before we talk about the benefits of replacing a failing alternator, you should first be able to pinpoint if the alternator’s the one really causing the problem. The signs of a bad alternator can be similar to a drained battery. To test this, jump start your vehicle with a jumper cable. Once your engine is running, disconnect the jumper cable from the terminals. A failing battery won’t kill the engine as soon as you remove the jumper cables. A dead engine shortly after disconnecting the jumper cables is one of the many bad alternator symptoms.

Maintaining a properly-working alternator has a lot of benefits contributing to cabin comfort, driving performance, ride quality, and saving money. If you persist on driving with a busted alternator, even amid the inconvenience it’s causing you, you’ll drain out your battery and may soon go on the fritz for good. To ensure longer battery life, as well as unparalleled driving convenience, replace a worn alternator.