Charging system. Generator, its structure and operation

10.6.1 Генератор

Генератор — це основне джерело живлення електрообладнання й електросистем автомобіля. Працює при обертанні, яке передається через приводний ремінь від колінчастого вала двигуна.

Примітка
Під час роботи генератора акумуляторна батарея заряджається до необхідного рівня.

Для постійної роботи генератора необхідно завжди стежити за натягом ременя привода, який визначається прогином ременя в певному місці при додаванні до нього встановленого зусилля.

Примітка
Регулювання натягу приводного ременя генератора виконується переміщенням самого генератора на його монтажному кронштейні.

10.6.2 Generator device

The arrangement of the generator is quite simple (Figure 10.9). Its casing contains a fixed stator winding. Bearings, in which the generator shaft with the rotor installed on it rotates, are installed in this same casing. The rotor also has its own winding. The block of the diode bridge of a rectifier, a brush and the voltage regulator are mounted under the cover of the generator.

Figure 10.9 Generator arrangement.

10.6.3 Generator operation

The generator operation is based on the effect of electromagnetic induction. In case if a coil, for example, is penetrated by a magnetic flux from a copper wire, then, an electric voltage proportional to the rate of change of the magnetic flux appears at the coil terminals when it changes. Conversely, it is sufficient to pass an electric current through the coil in order to generate a magnetic flux. Thus, obtaining an alternating electric current requires an alternating magnetic source and a coil from which the alternating voltage will be directly removed.

10.6.4 Voltage regulator

The voltage regulator is an extremely important element of a generator. The fact is that the voltage, which is generated by the generator, directly depends on the number of revolutions of the rotor. And the number of these revolutions can be quite large, as the speed of the crankshaft can reach 6000-7000 rpm. In order not to burn consumers, a voltage regulator was installed into the generator design.

10.6.5 Generator check

Attention
Some drivers use a dangerous method of checking the operation of the generator by disconnecting the negative terminal from the battery pack. You can do this trick for a car with a carburetor engine, but just be careful. Though, on cars with modern control system of the engine (ECU) it can lead to failure of the electronic control unit and other elements of electric system of the car. This shall not be done!