Smart charge alternators have a similar fundamental design as conventional alternators, with an electromagnetic rotor within stator The stator is the stationary part of a rotary system, found in electric generators, electric motors, sirens, mud motors or biological rotors. Energy flows through a stator to or from the rotating component of the system. In an electric motor, the stator provides a rotating magnetic field that driv…Stator
How to determine if vehicle has Smart alternator for battery charger?
How to Determine if Vehicle Has Smart Alternator for Using REDARC Battery Charger 1 Locate your main vehicle battery 2 Start the engine, ensuring any fans, radio, lights etc. are turned off. 3 Take a voltage reading across the main vehicle battery 4 Leave running for around 5/10 minutes, then repeat step 3 More ...
How does a Smart Charge alternator work after a cold start?
“Conversely after a cold crank start a smart charge alternator can work to maximum output capacity, and the ECU can instruct the alternator to send up to 18 volts to the battery. “For this reason it is essential that the correct type of battery is fitted to the vehicle.
What is a smart charging system?
In summary, the smart charging system uses onboard control modules to regulate alternator output so that engine load may be minimized and engine horsepower and fuel efficiency can be maximized.
What is the voltage of a car alternator?
Traditional alternators maintain their voltage between 13.8-14.4V depending on the state of charge of the battery and various other factors. This means that there is always a significant load on the engine from the alternator which requires fuel to be consumed.
What is the point of a smart alternator?
The smart alternator system, also known as variable voltage alternators, allow the vehicle to control the output voltage and current from the alternator based on vehicle operating conditions. The idea behind this is to reduce electrical load and in turn mechanical load on the engine by the alternator.
How do I know if my van has a smart alternator?
During the drive, have the other person monitor the meter. Should the voltage go up and down between around 12-15V then the vehicle has a smart alternator and you will need to use a DC-DC charger. If it stays steady & consistent at about 14V or so then you will have a fixed voltage alternator and be able to use a VSR.
How does a smart charging system work?
Smart charging is all about connecting charging points with users and operators. Every time an EV is plugged in, the charging station sends information (i.e. charging time, speed, etc) via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a centralized cloud-based management platform. Additional data may also be sent to this cloud.
What voltage do smart alternators charge at?
Smart Alternators. Fixed voltage alternators deliver a fixed voltage of around 14V to the electrical system of your vehicle. These units will provide a higher current after you start your car and once the battery is back up to charge, reduce the current whilst you are driving.
What vehicles have a smart alternator?
Smart alternators are something that's coming up more and more frequently these days as vehicle manufacturers seek to get their emissions down to meet Euro 5 & 6 regulations. These are commonplace in T6s, Transit customs, Renault Masters and Mercedes Sprinters, amongst most other new vehicles.
How do I turn off my smart alternator?
5:2010:20Ford Ranger Smart Charging Disabled, Variable Voltage AlternatorYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere like that you know it doesn't have to come all the way out as long as that. Contact isMoreThere like that you know it doesn't have to come all the way out as long as that. Contact is separated. Inside that's fine and essentially that is how you disable the smart charge.
Why do I need a smart charger?
What is smart charging? Smart charging is a safe and convenient way of charging your electric vehicle (EV) at times when demand for electricity is lower, for example at night, or when there is lots of renewable energy on the grid.
What controls a Ford Smart charge alternator?
Smart charge alternators are controlled externally by the ECU with information being sent between the two via the communication cable as a signal.
Does the alternator charge the auxiliary battery?
You can easily use your alternator to charge your second (auxiliary) battery simply by connecting the positive terminals of both batteries so that they're in parallel.
Do you need a DC-DC charger with a smart alternator?
If you have a smart alternator then you will need to use a Battery-To-Battery charger (also known as a DC-DC charger) to ensure that you can charge your auxiliary battery effectively.
Can a DC-DC charger damage an alternator?
Issues with dc-dc charging Basic dc-dc alternator charger does not work well (or at all) with variable voltage alternators. Moreover, doing so may damage the auxiliary battery/s.
What alternator do I need for my car?
The amp rating of the alternator is matched to the vehicle's electrical system. Older vehicles with fewer accessories may only need a 70- or 80-amp alternator, while a newer vehicle with lots of electronics and accessories may need a 120- to 160-amp alternator.
Does my Renault Trafic have a smart alternator?
This includes the Renault Master, Trafic and Kangoo models customised by many vehicle body builders for the recreational, emergency service and commercial market segments. To achieve this compliance, Renault has equipped their vehicles with an advanced variable voltage (smart) alternator.
Does my Fiat Ducato have a smart alternator?
xsilvergs. We have a 2017 Fiat Ducato coach built motorhome it does not have a smart alternator.
What alternator does my car?
Look for a diagram under or near your fuse box cover. It will have individual amperage numbers (sometimes along with volts) already set by the manufacturer. Add up those numbers to find what amperage your alternator needs to feed the car's electrical system.
Do you need a DC-DC charger with a smart alternator?
If you have a smart alternator then you will need to use a Battery-To-Battery charger (also known as a DC-DC charger) to ensure that you can charge your auxiliary battery effectively.
What is smart charging system?
In summary, the smart charging system uses onboard control modules to regulate alternator output so that engine load may be minimized and engine horsepower and fuel efficiency can be maximized.
What is the purpose of an alternator?
Even a novice automotive technician should know that the primary purpose of the alternator is to maintain battery charge and keep the electrical system working properly. What you may not realize is the significance of the load placed on the engine by an alternator that is charging at full capacity.
Does an alternator affect engine performance?
The alternator, which is driven by the enginecrankshaft (via serpentine belt), can diminish engine performance and fuel efficiency noticeably if allowed to operate at full capacity when maximum voltage/amperage is not required. In fact, if the engine were allowed to maintain idle RPM as the alternator increased its level of voltage output, engine vibration, a rough idle, and possibly even engine stall would occur.
What happens if the smart alternator controller detects a system fault?
If the smart alternator controller detects a system fault, the smart charging functionality will be disabled, Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) set, and the engine management and battery warning lights illuminated. Provided the fault is not within the alternator, it will still function conventionally with its output regulated to 14.75 V.
What is the output current of an alternator?
At low loads the alternator output current ( Channel A) is approximately 14 A. With additional electrical loads, such as those from the heated screen, main beam headlights, and heater blower, the output current increases to 70 A.
What channel to connect Picoscope to alternator?
Connect PicoScope Channel B to the alternator feedback circuit.
Why is the alternator feedback sent to the ECM?
A feedback signal is sent from the alternator to the ECM to provide a check the system is operating within tolerance. For this reason, smart charge systems [notably, the Ford system] can be highly intolerant to any alternator that is not manufactured to the original specifications.
What is the feedback signal of an alternator?
The alternator feedback signal ( Channel B) is a pulse-width-modulated voltage waveform dependent on the alternator current output: with a low load, the waveform is around 0 V for approximately 60% of its cycle duration; at high loads it is around 12 V for approximately 100% of its cycle duration.
Why is smart charging important?
Smart charge systems are able to balance these requirements against the needs of the driver, such as the requirement for maximum torque on hard acceleration, and the need for less engine drag during normal operation, for better fuel efficiency. Furthermore, they can closely manage the battery’s needs, for example by providing a higher charging rate at cold ambient temperatures. This helps to keep the battery in optimum states of charge and health.
What is the purpose of a Ford alternator test?
The purpose of this test is to check the command, feedback, and output voltage signals from a Ford-type smart charging alternator.
How much power does an alternator take out of a car?
The alternator is only about 75% efficient at these higher levels, meaning the amount of power taken out of the drivetrain is closer to 5hp.
What is a B2B charger?
A B2B charger from UK manufacturer Sterling Power Products. Turn mechanical energy into electrical energy that you use to save fuel. In Formula One they call it KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), in electric cars, hybrid cars, milk floats and electric forklift trucks, it’s known as regenerative braking.
How many V does a starter battery have before Euro 6?
Before the introduction of Euro 6, a vehicle alternator would maintain the starter battery at around 14V.
Who makes the Euro 6 starter controller?
Sterling Power Products in the UK and Votronic in Germany have already produced a controller to bridge the connection between starter and leisure battery for Euro 6 vehicles.
Is a power steering system electrical?
Plus, most power-steering systems are also electrical.
Can a leisure battery be split?
Now consider the leisure battery. The traditional ‘split charge relay’ that simply connects the leisure battery in parallel with the starter battery would find this scenario hard to handle.
What is smart alternator?
Vehicle manufacturers are having to comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations so are continually researching and employing clever technologies to lower fuel consumption and reduce emissions. One of the technologies that has been around for several years, but which is now becoming standard on new vehicles, is the 'smart' or 'intelligent' ECU-controlled alternator.
What charger do I need for a smart alternator?
If you have a smart alternator then you will need to use a Battery-To-Battery charger (also known as a DC-DC charger) to ensure that you can charge your auxiliary battery effectively. Battery-To-Battery (or DC to DC) chargers take the highly variable voltage output from a smart alternator and boost or reduce it to maintain a stable voltage output according to a multi-stage charging profile (in the same way as a mains charger does) providing a safe, controlled and fast charge for your auxiliary battery.
How does an alternator work?
When an alternator is running and producing a charging voltage the electromagnetic field generated inside it produces a mechanical load on the engine via the alternator drive belt. This load increases as the output voltage rises, meaning that the engine has to work harder to turn the alternator which consumes more fuel in the process. Traditional alternators maintain their voltage between 13.8-14.4V depending on the state of charge of the battery and various other factors. This means that there is always a significant load on the engine from the alternator which requires fuel to be consumed.
What voltage does a VSR relay work at?
Voltage sensitive relays rely on voltage thresholds that trigger them to engage and disengage. Typically they engage to connect the starter and auxiliary battery together at around 13.7V and disengage to separate them at around 12.8V, which in vehicles with traditional alternators coincides with engine start-up and shut-down. This is ideal as it makes sure that the auxiliary battery is charging whenever the engine is running. However, with a smart alternator, when the output voltage drops to below 12.8V a VSR would disengage, meaning that the auxiliary battery would have significant periods where it wouldn't be charging, even though the engine would be running (some models of VSR may not engage at all, dependent on the on-board software). VSRs can also engage and disengage frequently with the large and rapid voltage changes from a smart alternator and so the high current contacts may fail prematurely.
What happens when the smart alternator output is below the charging voltage threshold?
During the periods when the smart alternator output is below the charging voltage threshold there will be no charging taking place. These periods can be significant when combined over the full length of a journey meaning that any connected auxiliary battery will not receive as much charge as it would if connected to a system with a traditional alternator.
Why are smart alternators ECU controlled?
As smart alternators are ECU-controlled it enables manufacturers to vary the voltage output more than can be achieved with an internal regulator. This provides the opportunity to bring the voltage below 13.8V during periods when no further charging is required (e.g. when the battery is nearly full) meaning that engine loads are reduced, fuel consumption is reduced and emissions are lowered, all helping manufacturers to comply with industry environmental regulations.
What voltage is a gel battery?
Gel and AGM batteries (which are now popular for use in auxiliary battery applications) are sensitive to over-charging and voltages above 14.4V can cause gas bubbles to form in the electrolyte gel which can permanently damage the battery.
What is a smart alternator?
vehicles. The type of equipment you may need to correctly charge and maintain your auxiliary batteries depends on whether . your vehicle has this technology or not. Variable Voltage Alternators are also commonly known as ‘Smart Alternators’. or ‘Computer Controlled Alternators’.
Can you charge an auxiliary battery at 100%?
No; Because of the way Variable Voltage Alternators work, there are several situations in which the output voltage. is either too low, too high or not charging at all (hence ‘variable voltage’) therefore it's not possible to charge your. auxiliary battery correctly and to 100% state of charge.
Why do smart alternators have a lower voltage charge?
So smart alternators are one that typically have a lower voltage charge when the vehicle is accelerating and then a drastically higher voltage when the vehicle is coasting . This is a way to minimize the load on the engine when needing the power of the engine and then maximize the load when the vehicle is slowing down.
How to tell if you have a smart alternator?
Here's how you determine if you have a smart alternator or not: 1. Locate your main vehicle battery. 2. Start the engine, ensuring any fans, radio, lights etc. are turned off. 3. Take a voltage reading across the main vehicle battery. 4. Leave running for around 5/10 minutes, then repeat step 3.
Saving Energy
How It Works
- When we’re driving and need to slow down a bit, in most cases we simply lift off the accelerator and let the engine braking take over, only pressing the brake pedal if further braking is required. When you lift your foot off the accelerator or touch the brake pedal, the new bigger alternator pumps about 200A into the starter battery, and the instant voltage can rise to in excess of 15V. …
Controlled by The ECU
- After you have slowed down, the battery voltage is high and the state of charge closer to 100%, so the alternator stops charging, removing load from the engine. All of the vehicle’s electrical systems continue to run from the battery, until the state of charge is back to that 75%-charged condition. Once the voltage has fallen to about 12.3V, the al...
Save Fuel
- It doesn’t take long to use up this energy, but while you are doing so, the engine isn’t producing it. So, in essence, taking your foot off the accelerator, or starting to use pedal braking, is turning mechanical energy into electrical energy that you use later to save fuel. Allied to this are better batteries, which will accept the high charge rates and the frequent charging/discharging, but stil…
Battery Low-Down
- Now consider the leisure battery. The traditional ‘split charge relay’ that simply connects the leisure battery in parallel with the starter battery would find this scenario hard to handle. Some intelligence and control are required for this. Bring on the latest battery-to-battery chargers that are designed to accept the wide range of starter battery input voltages, but still put out a good re…
Does Your ’van Have This Tech?
- So how do you know whether your vehicle has a regenerative smart alternator system? Plug a mini digital voltmeter into the dashboard cigarette lighter socket (you can buy a perfectly adequate digital voltmeter for a couple of pounds online), then drive down a straight road for about 10 minutes. If the voltage rises under deceleration to 15V or so, and falls off to about 12.5…