What is the exciter wire on an alternator?
What is the exciter wire on an alternator?
The exciter wire is used to turn on the voltage regulator. This wire, when unplugged, should have approx. 12.5 volts with the key on. If it does not then the alternator will not work.
What stops the alternator from overcharging the battery?
When the battery begins to overcharge, or more correctly reaches the designed voltage, the regulator lessens the field strength preventing the battery from overcharging.
Why is my battery light on with new battery and alternator?
It is possible that the problems that you have been experiencing with the bad alternators have damaged the battery causing it to be weak. This would make the Battery Light come on. It is also possible that there is a problem with the fusible link or the alternator fuse for the charging system.
What does D+ mean on an alternator?
D+ is for the exciter, alternator dash signal light and voltage regulator circuit. This must also be showing 12.5 volts when the engine is not running, but the ignition switch is on. If it is not 12.5 volts, then the battery may be flat, and the light will come on when the alternator is running.
Do I need the exciter wire on alternator?
Simplified. For an alternator you need an exciter circuit to start the coil (windings) to produce a field to start the alternator to produce charging. This exciter circuit is a “load” per say, that has to be there.
Does the ECU control the alternator?
An alternator works together with the battery to supply power for the electrical components of the vehicle. These systems are controlled by the vehicle Engine Control Unit (ECU). As the vehicle demands more load the ECU sends a signal to the alternator requesting it to start charging.
Can you fix an overcharging alternator?
Temporarily, the problem can be fixed by manually cutting the small positive wire that supplies power to the field windings of the alternator…. By putting a switch in between to interrupt the over charging…. Every so often to avoid damaging the battery ……
Is there a fuse for the alternator?
There are 2 fuses for the alternator. One is usually a fusable link (wire) for connecting the stator diodes to the battery, and a lower value fuse (10 to 30 amp) for protecting the field (rotor).
Why does my alternator light stay on?
When the light stays on, it indicates that the computer has detected an issue with the charging system. If this light illuminates, try to use only necessary accessories like windshield wipers or headlights so as to avoid excessively draining out the battery.
What happens if you unplug alternator?
If your alternator is malfunctioning by over-charging your battery, disconnecting it may allow the alternator to provide an even higher voltage to the car electronics, and potentially damage those sensitive components.
