Category Archives: Engines

What Is an Alternator and Why Is It Important for Your Vehicle?

What Is an Alternator and Why Is It Important for Your Vehicle?

People often think that the battery in their vehicle supplies all the power for electrical components in their vehicles. However, this is not true. The alternator actually produces the majority of electricity used to power the radio, headlights, windshield wipers, and more. The battery mostly supplies the electricity needed to start the car and keep things running when the motor is not turned on.

Because of this, the alternator is one of the most important components in a car. Without it, the vehicle will not have the power it needs to keep its systems running. Understanding how the alternator works can help you pinpoint this component as the problem underlying an issue that has come up and give you some insights on troubleshooting and fixing it.

What Exactly Is an Alternator?

An alternator is essentially a small generator that provides power to your vehicle and helps recharge the battery. While some hybrid vehicles do not have an alternator, virtually all rely on this component. The alternator is quite small—smaller than a bowling ball—and mounted to the front of the engine. The component will have a belt wrapped around it, which makes it relatively easy to identify.

The composition of the alternator depends on the specific needs of your vehicle. Electricity is produced by the rotor and the stator. The rotor is a cylinder that has magnets around it. The stator houses the rotor and has a fixed set of conductive copper wiring. As the magnets move over the wiring, electricity gets generated.

Alternators have several other components to regulate and distribute electricity. The voltage regulator, for example, monitors how much electricity is produced and determines how much goes to the battery and how much powers the vehicle. Alternators also have a diode rectifier that helps convert the voltage generated by the magnets into a form that can be used by the battery to restore its charge.

Another essential component of an alternator is the cooling fan. As alternators generate electricity, they produce a lot of heat. This fan helps ensure the component does not overheat. Modern alternators tend to have internal cooling fans while older models have external ones.

How Does the Alternator Produce Electricity?

For alternators to produce electricity, they need to be connected to the engine. Typically, the crankshaft of the engine drives the rotation of the alternator with the help of a serpentine belt. This belt provides mechanical energy to turn the rotor at a high speed inside the stator. The magnets around the rotor interact with the copper wiring in the stator to produce a magnetic field that creates voltage.

The stator captures this voltage and transmits it to the voltage regulator, which in turn disperses energy to the vehicle. Luckily, the vehicle can use this energy in its current form to power electronic components. However, the battery is not able to use this voltage to recharge and some additional steps are necessary.

Electricity can flow in different directions, and batteries require one-way flow, which is known as direct current (DC). Alternators produce alternating current (AC). The diode rectifier converts AC to DC. Once this conversion happens, the electricity can flow to the battery to help it recharge. This keeps the battery from dying too soon considering the large load placed upon it.

In addition, this feature is why you can often recover a dead or dying battery by getting the vehicle started and letting it run for a while. As the car runs, the battery naturally gets recharged, especially if there is not a large demand for electricity from other components within the vehicle.

What Happens When the Alternator Fails?

As with any other component in your vehicle, the alternator can fail. Identifying when this happens can help you get it replaced quickly and avoid further complications. Often, vehicles have an indicator light in the dashboard that will say ALT or GEN to indicate when a problem with the alternator has been identified.

However, other signs may precede this warning light, such as dim or flickering headlights. Since the alternator provides power to the bulbs, this issue shows that the component may be struggling to generate electricity. Other electrical failures can also occur, such as problems with power locks and windows, air conditioning, and the stereo system.

On the more serious end of issues that could be related to a failing alternator, you should also consider this possibility if your vehicle stalls or has trouble starting. Electricity is vital for keeping your vehicle running, especially in terms of powering the spark plugs. When the alternator fails, there may not be enough spark to start the engine or keep it running.

Battery problems can also point to a failing alternator if it is unable to recharge effectively. Always check the alternator when you start having battery problems to ensure it is not just the battery that is faulty. Furthermore, a failed alternator can cause bearings in the engine to break, which will result in an unusual rattle. While this noise is vague, it could point to the alternator if paired with another symptom mentioned.

Featured Image courtesy Classic Mini’s Japan | Flickr

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