The alternator is an essential component of every vehicle. It transforms mechanical energy into electricity, recharging the vehicle battery and powering its electrical systems, such as the radio, heater, headlights, and dashboard instruments. The inner workings of the alternator seem mysterious, but they're quite simple and fascinating. Here's our Gainesville, GA Jim Hardman Buick GMC service team's demystified explanation.
The engine's crankshaft spins the alternator by way of pulleys and/or serpentine belts. The alternator contains a rotor situated within a stator. The rotor boasts magnets placed in such a way that they generate alternating current (AC) when they overpass the stator's copper wiring. The stator uptakes this electricity, sending it to the alternator's rectifier, which turns AC into direct current (DC). DC is the juice that your car loves.
How the Alternator Differs From the BatteryIt easy to confuse the functions of the alternator and the battery, but their differences are rather basic. The battery supplies the initial jump to a car's engine. Afterward, it's the alternator that supplies electrical power, even during idling.