#autoelectrical #autorepairs #mechanics #autotraining #fixingcars

Training students about car charging systems last week. I modified an alternator on one of our vehicles to provide an output of the alternator regulator.
In the picture, the top oscilloscope trace is the alternator regulator switching the magnet on and off to regulate charge rate and therefore voltage of the v3hicle.
The bottom trace is the current from a current clamp attached to the alternator positive cable to the battery.
You can see when the alternator magnet is switched on, the current increases to the battery. When the alternator magnet is turned off the current slows.

The regulator will turn on or turn off the field (magnet) current depending on system voltage. That is why the on time on the top trace is not uniform. It all depends on the electrical requirements of the vehicle.