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Things You Need To Know About Car Alternators

Want to know how a car alternator works? What makes this automobile component essential?

As you all know, a battery is needed to power some of the systems of your car. Once the vehicle is running, the battery is charged by the alternator which is driven by the engine. The alternator generates direct current for recharging the battery and for powering vehicle electrical loads. Alternator provides the engine and other car accessories with power. When the car is not running, some electrical components can still operate.These components are designed to operate properly at 12 volts, so if the system voltage is low it can cause erratic symptoms like headlights dim, radio and the heater quit altogether.

The car alternator and the battery is interrelated. Actually, it is part of charging system, which consists of the battery, the voltage regulator and an alternator. They work together to provide voltage to generate power for the electrical components of a vehicle like lights and radios.

There are two elements common to all car alternators: the stationary stator and the rotating rotor. A stator consists of three sets of individual windings wound around a laminated circular iron stator frame. There is also a rectifier assembly, a set of brushes to maintain electrical contact with the rotor, and a pulley. All of these parts, except the pulley, are contained in an aluminum housing.

Car alternators are usually found near the front of the engine and are driven by the crankshaft. An alternator gets its name from the term alternating current (AC). Alternators produce AC power through electromagnetism formed through the stator and rotor. If a magnet is passed near a wire, an induced current will flow in that wire. If many magnets are rapidly passed over a coil of wire, much more induced current will be produced.

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