How many volts does it take to excite an alternator?

This light is used as a resister to excite the alternator to charge. 12 volts is supplied to the light from the key switch. Voltage goes through the light and down the exciter wire to the alternator. The wire is connected to the “L” terminal of the alternator.

How much power does it take to turn an alternator?

An alternator takes about 1 HP for every 25 Amps of power. At full output, a 100 Amp alternator will need about 4 HP. For a long time, most alternators don't operate at full output.

Do I need to excite an alternator?

If you've installed an alternator and it won't charge, don't remove it just yet. Here's why: most Delco Remy alternators have "Auto Start" capability that doesn't require a separate wire to excite the alternator to charge.

Will an alternator work without an exciter wire?

The exciter wire is used to turn on the voltage regulator. This wire, when unplugged, should have approx. 12.5 volts with the key on. If it does not then the alternator will not work.

Where does exciter wire go on alternator?

Exciter wire is connected to the L terminal of an alternator and is used to turn on the voltage regulator. Excitor wire is needed to generate the voltage required for the alternator to start running. The positive and negative cables are small and connected to the respective terminals of the battery.

How to Excite the One Wire - Self Exciting Alternator.

What voltage is generally used for field excitation?

The most common values are 120, 350 and 1000 Ω.

How long does an alternator take to fully charge a battery?

Generally, if you can keep your engine RPM up, your alternator will charge your battery at a faster rate. If you are driving on a motorway, you should be able to charge your car battery in 30 minutes. If you are driving in the city, it may take an hour or more.

Does alternator produce AC or DC?

Car batteries operate on one-way direct current (DC) electricity, while alternators output alternating current (AC) electricity, which occasionally flows in reverse.

Can you spin an alternator too fast?

Most alternators need to spin at about 2,400 rpm at idle, have their maximum output above 6,000 rpm, and should never exceed 18,000 rpm.

What tells the alternator to charge?

A VOLTAGE REGULATOR regulates the charging voltage that the alternator produces, keeping it between 13.5 and 14.5 volts to protect the electrical components throughout the vehicle.

Can you run an alternator without a battery?

An alternator does not need a battery to operate. The alternator will work if the battery fails or the car is jump started from another car.

Does an alternator charge at idle?

Assuming the alternator, engine, belt, and battery are all in working order, then yes, a car battery will charge when idling. The only caveat is that it doesn't really “charge” that fast. This is solely due to the fact that the engine doesn't have a load on it when your car is simply idling.

Does revving the engine charge the battery?

Yes, revving the engine will still charge the battery faster.

What should an alternator charge at idle?

Most alternators that are charging properly should produce a voltage of about 13.8 to 14.2 volts at idle with the lights and accessories off.

What is alternator hunting?

In other words, when the driving torque applied to an alternator is pulsating such that produced by a diesel engine, then the rotor of the alternator may be pulled periodically ahead of or behind the normal position as it rotates. This oscillating action of the alternator rotor is known as hunting.

What are the 3 wires for on a alternator?

A three-wire alternator wiring diagram shows how the various components of a circuit are connected. The circuit is made up of three major wires: a positive cable for the battery, a voltage detecting wire, and an ignition wire. The engine is connected to the ignition input wire.

What is D+ on a alternator?

The D+ signal wire is used as an on and off switch for these devices, its main purpose is to send a 12V+ signal to the device when the vehicle is running.

What color is exciter wire?

The purple wire should come from the key switch run position and go to the exciter terminal. I sounds like someone put it on the wrong terminal. You should check to make sure it does come from that switch, but purple is the correct color for it.

Does a one wire alternator need a voltage regulator?

As you might assume, the concept behind a one-wire alternator is that there is a single wire used to connect the alternator to the battery. The voltage regulator is internal, and there are no other wires that need to be connected to your electrical system.

Do you have to polarize a 12 volt voltage regulator?

Polarizing your 12-volt generator is necessary for your generator to work in conjunction with the regulator. A generator, unlike an alternator, can run off both positive and negative current. A regulator always runs off positive current.