Charging Systems Part 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Which explosive gas do car batteries produce?

A

Hydrogen

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2
Q

True or False: You should never disconnect the battery while the engine runs.

A

True

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3
Q

True or False: You should disconnect the positive cable first and reconnect it last.

A

False: You should disconnect the negative cable first and reconnect it last.

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4
Q

What is the purpose of the charging system?

A

Recharges the battery and supplies power to electrical devices after engine start-up

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5
Q

What are the two major parts of the charging system?

A

Alternator and Voltage regulator

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6
Q

What is the purpose of the alternator?

A

It is the heart or electrical pump of the system. It converts the kinetic energy from the drive belt into electrical energy.

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7
Q

What does a generator use to create an AC voltage?

A

Electromagnetic Induction

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8
Q

What is electromagnetic Induction?

A

When a magnetic field cuts through a wire, it induces a voltage into the wire

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9
Q

What is ACV?

A

Alternating Current Voltage: It causes current to flow first in one direction and then in the opposite direction

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10
Q

What are the two main parts of an AC generator?

A
  1. The stator

2. The rotor (a spinning magnet)

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11
Q

What are the 3 ways to increase the voltage induced in a conductor?

A
  1. Spin the rotor faster
  2. Make the roto’s magnetic field stronger
  3. Add more coils
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12
Q

How do you calculate the amount of voltage induced in a generator?

A

Multiply the the voltage for each coil by the number of coils

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13
Q

True or False: In a generator that produces 3-phase AC voltage, the voltage can equal zero.

A

False: The voltages of each conductor are out of sync with each other and will never equal zero

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14
Q

What is a stator made up of?

A

3 conductors fitted into an iron frame

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15
Q

True of False: The stator does not move

A

True: The stator is held stationary while the rotor spins inside

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16
Q

What type of voltage does a vehicle require?

A

Constant DC voltage

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17
Q

Since the generator produces 3-phase AC and a vehicle needs constant DC voltage, what converts the ACV to DCV?

A

The Rectifier

18
Q

How many diodes are needed to convert ACV to DCV?

A

6

19
Q

Why does a rectifier require two heat sinks?

A

Because the rectifier gets very hot it needs two aluminum heat sinks to conduct heat away from the diodes.

20
Q

What is a rotor?

A

A spinning electromagnet

21
Q

What controls the amount of voltage a rotor induces into the stator?

A

The strength of the rotor’s magnetic field

22
Q

What makes the magnetic field in a rotor?

A

The field winding (coil) inside it

23
Q

What does the voltage regulator control?

A

Rotor field current

24
Q

What are the three functions of the capacitor?

A
  1. helps stabilize the output voltage
  2. protects the rectifier from voltage spikes
  3. reduces RFI
25
Q

_______________ are used on diesel and luxury vehicles. The clutch prevents the rotor from stopping abruptly when the engine shuts down.

A

Over-running alternator pulleys

26
Q

What is a benefit of an over-running alternator pulley?

A

Reduction of belt noise and wear

27
Q

What are the three circuits in a charging system?

A
  1. The output circuit
  2. The field circuit
  3. The charge indicator circuit
28
Q

Generator output current flows through 10-gauge wire. This circuit is protected by either a _________ or a ___________.

A

Fusible wire (fuse link) or maxi-fuse

29
Q

What is the purpose of the field circuit?

A

supplies current to the field winding

30
Q

Which circuit is the voltage regulator a part of?

A

Field circuit

31
Q

What is the purpose of the voltage regulator?

A

Measures charging system voltage and varies field current as required

32
Q

What does the BCM monitor?

A

Battery current, battery charging voltage and the generator field duty cycle

33
Q

The _____ controls the voltage regulator by a PWMed signal

A

ECM

34
Q

What does the BCM use to measure the battery charge and discharge rates?

A

Hall effect type battery current sensor

35
Q

The hall effect battery current sensor operates at ____Hz

A

128 Hz

36
Q

The ECM uses circuit 23 to monitor the generator field circuit. If there is a problem, the ECM sends a network message to the ______ to illuminate the charge lamp.

A

IPC

37
Q

What can the BCM do if it detects an undercharge condition?

A

Shed electrical loads and/or command the ECM to boost idle speed

38
Q

Where is the charging gauge (voltmeter) located

A

In the IPC

39
Q

What does the voltmeter measure?

A

Electrical system voltage

40
Q

When is the charging gauge active?

A

When the ignition switch is on