Cars are equipped with alternators. Depending on the model and the electrical equipment installed on the vehicle, generators of various capacities can be installed. When installing additional electrical equipment, check that the generator has enough power to power the new consumer.
The generator is driven by a V-ribbed belt from the engine crankshaft.
The generator is a three-phase synchronous electric machine with electromagnetic excitation. To convert AC to DC, a diode rectifier is built into the generator. The voltage is regulated by a built-in microelectronic voltage regulator.
When the generator is running, the electric current flowing through the excitation winding creates a magnetic field around the rotor poles. When the rotor rotates, the poles of the rotor alternately pass under the stator coils, the magnetic flux changes in magnitude and direction and creates an electromotive force in the stator winding.
At a high frequency of rotation of the generator rotor, when the generator voltage becomes greater than 13.6-14.6 V, the voltage regulator is locked and the current does not pass through the field winding. The generator voltage drops, the regulator opens and again passes current through the excitation winding. The higher the frequency of rotation of the generator rotor, the longer the time of the closed state of the regulator, therefore, the more the voltage at the generator output decreases. The process of locking and unlocking the regulator occurs at a high frequency, so the voltage fluctuations at the generator output are not noticeable and can practically be considered constant, maintained at the level of 13.6-14.6 V.
When checking the generator, as well as when operating the car, follow a number of simple rules so as not to disable the generator.