CHARGING SYSTEMS

REQUIREMENTS OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM

 Supply the current demands made by all loads

 Supply whatever charge current the battery demands

 Operate at idle speed

 Supply constant voltage under all conditions

 Have an efficient power-to-weight ratio

 Be reliable

 Require low maintenance

 Provide an indication of correct operation

VEHICLE ELECTRICAL LOADS
 CHARGING VOLTAGES
 constant voltage charging technique
 charging voltage for a 12 V system: 14.2 (+ or -) 0.2 V
 Commercial vehicles generally employ two batteries in series at a nominal voltage
of 24 V
 ALTERNATORS
Generation of electricity
 Electromagnetic induction is caused by a rotating magnet inside a stationary loop
or loops of wire
 The stationary loops of wire are known as the stator and consist of three separate
phases, each with a number of windings
 ALTERNATOR SYSTEM COMPONENTS
 A rotating field winding called the rotor
 A stationary induction winding called the stator
 A diode assembly called the rectifier bridge
 A control device called the voltage regulator
 Two internal fans to promote air circulation
 STATOR WINDINGS
 Star connection can be thought of as a type of series connection
of the phases
 Output voltage across any two phases will be the vector sum of
the phase voltages

 A delta connection can similarly be thought of as a type of

parallel circuit
 RECTIFICATION OF AC TO DC
 In order for the output of the alternator to charge the battery and run other vehicle
components it must be converted from alternating current (AC) to direct current
(DC)
 Full wave Bridge rectifier
 Rectify the output of three phase output
 REGULATION OF OUTPUT VOLTAGE
 Voltage variation due to RPM variation and Engine Temperature
 Prevent the vehicle battery from being overcharged.
 The regulated system voltage should be kept below the gassing voltage of the
lead-acid battery

 Alternator output is also proportional to magnetic field strength and this, in turn, is
proportional to the field current
 Regulator controls the field current in order to maintain constant output voltage
TYPES OF VOLTAGE REGULATORS
CHARGING CIRCUITS