Yes, you can use an alternator as a generator in the following ways:
- Initially, you need to run an alternator with a motor. It maintains charge in the battery
- Use inverter to provide AC current
- Use charge controller to stop the motor when the battery gets fully charged. You will need to use a voltage-sensitive relay.
- Optimize the cost by running the motor at low speed with a wide-open throttle
How to replace an alternator by yourself?
How-To: Replace an Alternator
- Disconnect the Battery. First and most importantly: disconnect the battery. ...
- Disconnect the Wires. Now that the battery is out of the way disconnect the wire or wires from the back of the alternator.
- Remove the Belt From the Pulley. ...
- Remove Bolts. ...
- Halfway There. ...
- Examine the Replacement. ...
- Reverse the Removal Steps. ...
Is an alternator expensive to replace?
What is the cost to replace an failing alternator? Keep in mind that replacing a failing alternator is expensive and sets you back anywhere between $400 and $850. If you buy original parts directly from a dealer, it is costlier. You can try rebuilding the unit as it hurts your pocket significantly less.
How to remove and replace an alternator?
Remove the main power cable from the alternator.
- The bolts will likely require standard sized sockets or wrenches in American made vehicles, and metric in most foreign applications.
- The only other cable running to the alternator connects to a harness, so it will be easy to identify.
- Set the bolt aside someplace safe until you install the new alternator.
How do you repair an alternator?
There are essentially three ways to make an alternator repair (either by the mechanic or yourself):
- Replacing the old alternator with a brand new one
- Replacing the old alternator with a used or refurbished one
- Refurbishing (repairing) your old alternator
Which is better alternator or generator?
One more generator alternator difference is that alternators use only the required amount of energy and thus, it conserves more energy. While generators use all the energy that is produced and so, they conserve less energy.
Why did the alternator replace the generator?
Alternators replaced DC generators in the 1960s because they were lighter, able to produce more power and proved to be more reliable. They are typically mounted on the front of engines and connected to the crankshaft by an accessory drive belt (often along with the air-conditioning compressor and water pump).
Is the alternator also called as generator?
A generator alternator is the heart of the generator. The alternator also referred to as 'genhead' is that part of a generator that produces electrical energy from the mechanical energy supplied to it by the engine. An alternator comprises a stator -- a stationary component -- and a rotor -- a moving component.
When did they switch from generators to alternators?
1960By 1960, automotive alternators were standard equipment for most car makes. Prior to that, generators had been used in vehicles because rectification of AC current into DC current required mechanical means until the advent of heavy-duty silicon diodes.
Can a car alternator power a house?
A standard car alternator is only 50–70amp at 12v. This is only about 4 amps. There are very few device in your house you can power this way. You would need batteries for load balancing.
Can an alternator run an electric motor?
The alternator can convert power from internal combustion into electricity, meaning alternators can be used as electric motors.
What are the advantages of alternators over generators?
Higher Output One of the benefits of an alternator is that its parts are more robust than what you'll find in a DC generator. This lets them rotate more quickly without the risk of causing damage. The higher rotation speed means an alternator can generate more power overall.
How many watts will a car alternator produce?
Conventional alternator may only produce power for about 500 Watt to 600 Watt. But nowadays, a single alternator can produce power up to 2500 Watt, depending on the power demand. The power that can be produced by an alternator is determined by the alternator rating.
How do you tell the difference between an alternator and a generator?
The major point that differentiates between an alternator and generator is that in an alternator, the magnetic field rotates around a stationary armature and in generator; the armature rotates inside a stationary magnetic field.
Why don't they put alternators on electric cars?
Electric cars don't need an alternator because they have no engine but run on a motor. An alternator requires mechanical energy to perform its function. The energy is obtained from the engine's capacity to burn fossil fuel.
When did they stop putting generators in cars?
1960sGenerators lasted until the 1960s in most vehicles, but they weren't very good at regulating voltage and had a reputation for overcharging batteries — and consequently damaging them.
Why did old cars use generators?
Old cars used generators to charge the battery when the engine was running. Then they switched over to alternators.
When did cars stop using generators?
1960sGenerators lasted until the 1960s in most vehicles, but they weren't very good at regulating voltage and had a reputation for overcharging batteries — and consequently damaging them.
When did GM stop using generators?
Luckily, GM alternators are very reliable and are easy to repair with simple hand tools and an ohmmeter. All you require is a little knowledge, which we'll impart, but first, a short review of charging system basics is in order. Before 1963, General Motors used generators instead of alternators.
Why did old cars use generators?
Old cars used generators to charge the battery when the engine was running. Then they switched over to alternators.
What did cars have before alternators?
Before the institution of the alternator, a generator was the source of power in a car. As time progressed, the alternator surfaced as a means to support the implementation of batteries in cars and other dynamic parts.
What is the difference between an alternator and a generator?
An alternator features a rotating magnetic field while a generator has a fixed or static magnetic field. That’s why the alternator has a variable output EMF, and a generator has a constant output EMF.
Why is an alternator more efficient than a DC generator?
The parts of alternators are more active and efficient than a DC generator. This enables them to rotate quicker with a low risk of damage. This higher rotation speed means that an alternator can generate higher power in lesser time. This also shows that an alternator can generate power even when running at a low speed.
What Is an Alternator?
An alternator is a type of generator that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and produces alternating current (AC).
How does an alternator conserve energy?
Energy Conservation. As an alternator produces electricity only when requires, it consumes lesser mechanical power and conserves more energy. On the other hand, a generator wastes more energy as it delivers a constant power supply.
What is the output of a generator?
A generator also converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, but the output is direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). Thus, the process is almost similar, but it produces electricity in the form of AC as well as DC.
Which has a wider RPM range, generator or alternator?
Alternators have a wider RMP range, while generators have a lower RPM range.
Why is it important to have a small alternator?
Secondly, the small size makes it easier to fit an alternator in the engine, which is already crowded with other parts and compartments. This also helps in easy maintenance and repair as there’s enough space to work in.
How many wires does an alternator need?
A relatively modern alternator only needs two wires to do its job. It needs a small wire that goes to the light on the dash, and it needs a heavier wire that carries the current out of the alternator and to the rest of the car. Two wires isn’t intimidating at all. We can deal with two wires.
What are the windings on a generator?
In a classic generator, the stator windings (statue, stationary – fixed in place) affixed to the inside of the case serve as the field windings. The windings on the armature (the part that rotates) are the current generating windings.
What happens when you pass a magnet past a coil of wire?
As you learned in school, when you pass a magnet past a coil of wire, (or you pass a coil of wire past a magnet) you create electricity in the coil of wire. The field windings (stationary) in the generator serve as an electro-magnet. The windings on the armature spin past the magnetism of the field windings.
Why do generators have pulleys?
To keep the RPM’s of the generator under control, generators were usually set up with a large pulley to lower their RPM’s. That protects the generator from high RPM damage, but it leaves the generator almost valueless at low RPM’s.
Do generators have voltage regulators?
Generators had external voltage regulators. Alternators usually have internal voltage regulators. That means the alternator is a nice neat all-in-one package, but it leaves us with a number of wires and the old regulator that need to be dealt with.
Is it hard to install an alternator in a car?
Installing an alternator in place of a generator, or upgrading an older style alternator to a more modern alternator, is usually not hard to do. The challenge for many of us is how to wire the upgrade. Generators had external voltage regulators.
Can a field winding be an electromagnet?
Also, the relatively small amount of power needed so the field windings can become an electro-magnet, can be sent to the armature via a pair of small brushes that would ride on slip rings on the armature instead of bars.
What is the BAT post on an alternator?
Alternator Wiring: As you can see, the BAT post of the regulator is being used as a junction point for the battery connection to the new single wire alternator. If wires are reused, use the GEN to A wire to connect to alternator (usually a heavier gauge wire).
Do you need to check the voltage before buying an alternator?
Be sure to check voltage and ground polarity before purchasing an alternator and always disconnect the battery before making any modifications. Belt sizes may also vary upon application, so pulley may need to be changed.
