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alternator operation Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Re: New Update: Battery light come on very dim, romick, Thu, 7 Apr 2005 08:49:44 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
When you turn the key to ON, current flows from the battery, through the battery light, through the green wire, and into the 'field coils' of the alternator. This current creates a magnetic field, and since current is flowing through the bulb, the bulb lights up. The engine starts and spins the alternator - since there is a magnetic field there, it creates current. The voltage regulator takes this current, and uses some of it to drive the field coils itself. Since the VR is now supplying the current to the coils, the current through the BATT light pretty much drops to zero, and the bulb goes out. If the alternator stops putting out current, current will flow through the light, and it'll come on. Once the alternator is up and running, it provides all of the electrical needs of the engine, and also charges the battery to replenish what was lost starting the engine. The purpose of the battery is to provide starting power; after that, it's pretty much along for the ride.
I'd check my VR installation, as DickT says.
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