How does an alternator work
How does an alternator work
(OP)
This might seam daft and bizarre
But I want to wire up a light or buzzer to tell me when the alternator has stopped putting current out
This is to be used for my charging system so I know when the alternators has finished charging the batteries up and I can switch my engine off
Yes I know the alternator will always be kicking out 14 ish volts when working properly
But even if the alternator is working under full load or idling its always shows 14V
I believe that the regulator deters whether or not a current is to be given off
Is there somewhere in the regulator that gives off a current (to wire to my sensor) when the alternator is under load or idling
Thanks
Batista230
But I want to wire up a light or buzzer to tell me when the alternator has stopped putting current out
This is to be used for my charging system so I know when the alternators has finished charging the batteries up and I can switch my engine off
Yes I know the alternator will always be kicking out 14 ish volts when working properly
But even if the alternator is working under full load or idling its always shows 14V
I believe that the regulator deters whether or not a current is to be given off
Is there somewhere in the regulator that gives off a current (to wire to my sensor) when the alternator is under load or idling
Thanks
Batista230





RE: How does an alternator work
Beyond that, you didn't give us a clue about what size/year/make of engine or vehicle is under discussion here, so we don't know whether your alternator has an internal or external regulator, or how many wires connect to the regulator, so we couldn't me much more helpful than to suggest fitting an ammeter and/or a current sensor in the battery charging wire. With an appropriate sensor and some downstream sparky stuff, the sky's the limit in terms of how you want to be signaled.
How large and how elastic is your budget?
Why don't you automate the stopping, and starting, of the engine, so you don't have to be there at all?
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: How does an alternator work
Current-sensor application: My '55 Plymouth is all original except the added 12v cassette player which gets power from a 12v battery in the trunk (in true cheapskate fashion, a "junk" battery that would no longer start a car). A 6v-pos-gnd to- 12v-neg-gnd DC-to-DC converter (off the IGN circuit of the Plymouth's ignition switch) enables 12v battery charging when the car is running. The current sensor is in the charging line to the "trunk battery" and helps me monitor the "junkiness" of the battery.
RE: How does an alternator work
Would this do the Job?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20A-Range-ACS712T-ELC-20...
I am also looking for a meter that tells me how much current or capacity in amps a battery has
Have seen them before somewhere; do you know what they are called and who sells them
Thanks
Batista230
RE: How does an alternator work
It sounds like you're looking for a load tester. My 500 amp one from Harbour Freight serves me well.
RE: How does an alternator work
RE: How does an alternator work
RE: How does an alternator work
RE: How does an alternator work
Here's a fine selection:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/ammeter-and-voltmeter-gau...
No, I don't work for JC Whitney. I have, however, spent many thousands there over the years.
Best to you,
Goober Dave
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RE: How does an alternator work
RE: How does an alternator work
An amp meter will tell me if the alternator is putting any charge out or not and hence if the battery is taking a charge or not
But I though a hydrometer was for testing for the density of water or in this application water to acid ratio
How would it tell me if the battery had no charge in it?
Thanks
Batista230
RE: How does an alternator work
http://bit.ly/V1jKCV