Waht is an Alternator?

Answer 1

An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to alternating current electrical energy. Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used. In principle, any AC generator can be called an alternator, but usually the word refers to small rotating machines driven by automotive and other internal combustion engines.

Answer 2

Extract from Wisegeek -

An alternator is part of the charging system of your car that produces electricity for many devices. A type of generator, the alternator transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy. Although your car's battery supplies some electricity, most of the electrical mechanisms within the vehicle, require the alternator's steady stream of power.

Alternating current (rather than direct current) gives the alternator its name, because this is the type of electricity it creates. It's mainly a mechanical device, concealing a pulley, wheels, brushes and wires, which hooks to the crankshaft and runs to the battery. This way, the gasoline powers the engine to turn the crankshaft, which in turn connects to the alternator. The alternator converts that motion into current whenever the car is running. The resulting electricity operates the cooling fan, headlights, windshield wipers, radio, defogger, and air conditioning.

To be more specific, an alternator is very efficient at producing a constant, high voltage, even when the car is idle, because of how it works. The belt (from the crankshaft) connects to a pulley system, called the rotor, such that when the belt is turning, it moves magnets across a special surface, called a conductor. Moving magnets, in the stator, generate an electrostatic field, otherwise known as electricity. This alternating current is controlled by a voltage regulator to keep the voltage steady. Another part, called the diodes, convert alternating current into direct current that flows on to the battery and other components.

Even if your alternator dies or malfunctions, your car will run for a while directly off of the battery, until all the battery's power is sapped. Therefore, it is hard to tell when your alternator has problems. Sometimes a harsh noise, or intermittent headlights, will give it away. Check to make sure the belts on the alternator are not cracked, or improperly tightened, before you replace the entire thing. A rebuilt alternator can be a reliable, but less expensive, option if you need it repaired

Answer 3

Doh! Some cracking answers here!

Basically, it's an electric motor thats working in reverse. It's built pretty much the same too, a can with several magnets round the outside, and an armature in the middle.

It relies on something called the hall effect. In a motor, electric current is applied and this puts a current through the armature (the bit that spins). When a current goes through a coil it generates a magnetic field (much like the big magnets you see on cranes in scrapyards). This magnetic field is carefully caluclated so that it opposes the magnets in the can. This is what pushes the armature round.

An alternator is exactly the reverse, the spinning of the armature which is powered by the engine, generates a current by spinning round between the magnets.

It's the same as the little dynamo's you used to put on your bike in olden days to power the lights. I suppose you could also call it a generator of sorts.

It basically works as a battery charger and supplies running current to the engine. You can actually take the battery out a car as long as it's running, as the alternator supplies enough current to run the car on it's own. Course you wouldn't be able to start it again.

Answer 4

Pretty much it just keeps the battery charged, so your battery can start the car in the mornings, or so your battery can handle driving down the road with wipers, headlights, radio, defroster, and all that happy horse manure operating.

Besides gas, what else powers your car? The electrical system consists of a battery and an alternator. The alternator is connected to the engine by a belt and generates electricity to recharge the battery. The battery makes 12-volt power available to everything the car needs electricity (the ignition system, radio, headlights, windshield wipers, power windows and seats, computers, etc.) through the vehicle's wiring.

Answer 5

"A car just happens to have an alternator"..... An alternator generates alternating (AC) current. Could be seen as converting mechanical energy into electrical energy

Please note - A car runs off the alternator not the battery. The alternator charges the battery sure but, more importantly, it supplies all the electrical components in the car.

Answer 6

An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to alternating current electrical energy. Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used. In principle, any AC generator can be called an alternator, but usually the word refers to small rotating machines driven by automotive and other internal combustion engines.

VR

Answer 7

My my some of these answers are pretty pathetic!

An alternator keeps your battery charged whilst the car engine is running.

It doesn't convert fuel, and it doesn't start the car! Alternators work on the principle of electromagnetic induction. If you rotate a coil in a magnetic filed a voltage is induced in the coil. The voltage is an alternating one and its frequency is the same as the frequency of the rotation of the coil. The ends of the coil are connected by contacts called brushes to special kind of commutator called a slip ring commutator. The brushes and the slip rings in the commutator allow an alternating current to be delivered by the rotating coil.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Answer 8

An alternator converts power from the gasoline engine to electrical energy to keep the battery working well.

Answer 9

You alternator helps to keep your car going- your battery. It powers it by the belts turning and making it work. Break a belt and your car will die because there is nothing resupplying your battery.....unless you have a diesel.

Answer 10

It is a part on a car, often driven off a belt that helps to keep your car battery charged.