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An alternator uses a small percentage of the engine horsepower to create electrical energy. As the name suggests, an alternator generates "alternating current", meaning that the polarity of the voltage reverses itself rapidly as the engine is running. Inside an automobile alternator are DIODES, which convert that alternating current back to direct current.
The battery in your vehicle does not "create" electrical energy, it simply stores energy. The batteries are rated based on the amount of energy that they can store. The total energy that a battery stores is rated in "Amp Hours", indicating the number of amps that a battery can release in one hour, although the number is misleading, since most batteries cannot maintain full capacity for a full hour.
While you start your engine, the battery provides all of the electrical needs of the vehicle. The battery must be capable of storing AND RELEASING enough electrical energy to operate the starter, fuel pump, ignition and the computer, along with anything else that happens to be turned on. Most auto manufacturers calculate a significant excess capacity when selecting a battery for a vehicle.
After the engine starts, the alternator SHOULD provide for all of the electrical needs; not only generating enough energy to operate the computer, ignition, fuel pump and vehicle accessories, but it must also replenish the electrical energy that was pulled from the battery when you started the engine.
Over time, batteries fail and are incapable of storing electrical energy as well as they once did. When the battery is no longer capable of storing enough electrical energy to start the engine, the battery must be replaced.
Alternators too get old and reach a point when they are incapable of providing enough electrical energy to provide for the needs of your vehicle.
Often a battery can be just fine, capable of storing electrical energy, but if the alternator is incapable of returning electrical energy to the battery, the battery will ultimately discharge, resulting in what is referred to as a "dead battery". But the problem can really be the alternator. That's why it's important to know what's going on under the hood, and to make certain that you have properly tested the electrical components before you just replace parts.
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What part of an automobile supplies current?
Alternator and battery
1997 cavalier will not start after alternator change?
did you unhook the battery before replacing the alternator
Which component controls the amount of current that the alternator sends to the battery?
Regulator.
What is an alternator for?
The alternator generates power to run the car and charge the battery. An alternator in a vehicle generates Alternate Current (AC) instead of Direct Current (DC) electricity to power the vehicle.
What does an alternator produce?
An alternator produces direct current that is used to charge up the battery while the car is running.
What is the problem when your change the alternator and its still not charging the battery?
Obviously check the battery. Anyway, if the alternator, battery, and wires connecting them are good the voltage regulator is next on the list.
What is the purpose of a alternator?
A car alternator generates alternating current, then uses a rectifier to convert the alternating current to direct current, it charges your battery and supplies the current to run all the electrical systems in the car.
What is the component in the alternator is responsible for direct current for charging the battery?
Diodes and rectifier
Do you need a voltage regulator if you have an alternator?
yes to regulate the current before it in to the battery.
What alternator do?
This is an easy answer. The alternator is hooked (through wires blue and black) to the battery. So every time you start an engine the alternator kicks on and charges the battery. That's practically how it works. <><><> To add a bit to the above- an alternator produces an alternating electrical current (unlike a generator, which produces a direct current- DC vs AC) On modern cars, the alternator produces the current used to charge the battery, and operate electrical equipment on the car, such as lights, wipers, radio, etc.
What is alternator do?
This is an easy answer. The alternator is hooked (through wires blue and black) to the battery. So every time you start an engine the alternator kicks on and charges the battery. That's practically how it works. <><><> To add a bit to the above- an alternator produces an alternating electrical current (unlike a generator, which produces a direct current- DC vs AC) On modern cars, the alternator produces the current used to charge the battery, and operate electrical equipment on the car, such as lights, wipers, radio, etc.
How does an alternator keep a cars battery charged?
An alternator has diodes which transform ac voltage to dc voltage so that the battery gets negative and positive current on its poles thus making the battery to be charged.
