English Deutsch Français Italiano Español Português 繁體中文 Bahasa Indonesia Tiếng Việt ภาษาไทย
All categories

Hi, what does the rectifier do in motorcycle electrics?

2007-04-15 10:15:24 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation Motorcycles

Cheers everyone, that's my Dad told then!!!!

2007-04-15 10:33:15 · update #1

12 answers

A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current to direct current, a process known as rectification. Rectifiers are used as components of power supplies and as detectors of radio signals. Rectifiers may be made of solid state diodes, vacuum tube diodes, mercury arc valves, and other technologies.

When just one diode is used to rectify AC (by blocking the negative or positive portion of the waveform) the difference between the term diode and the term rectifier is merely one of usage, i.e., the term rectifier describes a diode that is being used to convert AC to DC. Almost all rectifiers comprise a number of diodes in a specific arrangement for more efficiently converting AC to DC than is possible with just a single diode. Before the development of solid state rectifiers, vacuum tube diodes and copper oxide or selenium rectifier stacks were used.

2007-04-15 10:19:01 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 3 0

The alternator produces AC Current the rectifier converts the AC Current to DC Current to be used by the Motorcycles electrical system

2007-04-15 10:28:45 · answer #2 · answered by mr_e_cowboy 3 · 0 0

"Mr. KnowItAll" gave the best answer so far.
For more reading -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectifier
Click highlighted words such as "diodes"
"electric current" "voltage source" "alternating current"
You can get a brain freeze reading all about electricity.

Simple terms -
--A motorcycle's charging system (alternator) generates AC current (+) (-) (+) (-) (+) (-) and sends it to the rectifier.
--The rectifier has a series of diodes.
--A diode will let (+) flow through it, but not (-)
--The (-) current that can't get through, is diverted to ground, or the (-) negative terminal of the battery.
--The (+) that got through the diode, is directed to the (+) positive terminal of the battery.

Like others have said, a rectifier changes AC current to DC current.
AC goes in - DC comes out

2007-04-15 12:11:22 · answer #3 · answered by guardrailjim 7 · 0 0

A rectifier converts AC current into DC current

2007-04-15 10:19:09 · answer #4 · answered by Harry 3 · 0 0

A rectifier, (in everything, not just bikes) converts AC current to DC current.

2007-04-15 16:49:04 · answer #5 · answered by strech 7 · 0 0

It's the big lump of metal with fins attached to the electrics for changing AC from the alternator into DC for the battery etc.. On most older, and some newer, bikes it's tucked under the seat.

2007-04-15 10:26:51 · answer #6 · answered by Del Piero 10 7 · 0 0

your bike has an alternator which produces alternating current, this is changed to direct current by the rectifier to charge the battery

2007-04-15 10:22:06 · answer #7 · answered by smokey 7 · 0 0

Makes AC current into DC current.

2007-04-15 10:18:38 · answer #8 · answered by victorschool1 5 · 0 0

Rectifier?

A "Grease-Monkey" with a big Hammer!

and by the way to correct all the other answers - it converts ac current into PULSING dc!!! not stable dc - so there!!!!!!!

2007-04-15 23:26:56 · answer #9 · answered by howard g 2 · 1 1

Changes alternating current to direct current.

2007-04-15 10:18:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

fedest.com, questions and answers