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AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND WIRING

AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND WIRING

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Figure 2-28.- Typical diode.<br />

Since the engine speed varies in a vehicle, the frequency also varies with the change of<br />

speed. Likewise, increasing the number of pairs of magnetic north and south poles will<br />

increase the frequency by the number pair of poles. A four-pole generator can generate<br />

twice the frequency per revolution of a two-pole rotor.<br />

ALTERNATOR OUTPUT CONTROL<br />

A voltage regulator controls alternator output by changing the amount of current flow<br />

through the rotor windings. Any change in rotor winding current changes the strength<br />

of the magnetic field acting on the stator windings. In this way, the voltage regulator<br />

can maintain a preset charging voltage. The three basic types of voltage regulators are<br />

as follows:<br />

Contact point voltage regulator, mounted away from the alternator in the engine<br />

compartment<br />

Electronic voltage regulator, mounted away from the alternator in the engine<br />

compartment<br />

Electronic voltage regulator, mounted on the back or inside the alternator<br />

The contact point voltage regulator uses a coil, set of points, and resistors that limits<br />

system voltage. The electronic or solid-state regulators have replaced this older type.<br />

For operation, refer to the "Regulation of Generator Output" section of this chapter.<br />

<strong>AUTOMOTIVE</strong> <strong>ELECTRICAL</strong> <strong>CIRCUITS</strong> <strong>AND</strong> <strong>WIRING</strong> 34/ 101

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