Misplaced Pages

#818181

78-462: The 1st generation HYbrid4 system was available 2011–2017. Since 2020 there's a new HYbrid/HYbrid4 system, which is using plug-in technology, either FWD or AWD with power between 180hp (308 1.6 HYbrid) and 360hp (508 PSE). The Hybrid4 powertrain combines a 120 kW/163 hp (DW10CTED4 PSA-Ford Motor Company joint developed) 2.0 litre HDi FAP EURO5 diesel engine with a 28 kW (37 hp) electric motor. The powertrain offers 4 working modes: AUTO , in which

156-454: A generator is a device that converts motion-based power ( potential and kinetic energy ) or fuel-based power ( chemical energy ) into electric power for use in an external circuit . Sources of mechanical energy include steam turbines , gas turbines , water turbines , internal combustion engines , wind turbines and even hand cranks . The first electromagnetic generator, the Faraday disk ,

234-517: A polyphase winding is used and the pole-pieces of the rotor are shaped (claw-pole). Automotive alternators are usually belt -driven at 2–3 times crankshaft speed, speeds that could cause a commutator to fly apart in a generator. The alternator runs at various RPM (which varies the frequency) since it is driven by the engine. This is not a problem because the alternating current is rectified to direct current . Alternator regulators are also simpler than those for generators. Generator regulators require

312-635: A steam power plant . The first practical design was the AVCO Mk. 25, developed in 1965. The U.S. government funded substantial development, culminating in a 25 MW demonstration plant in 1987. In the Soviet Union from 1972 until the late 1980s, the MHD plant U 25 was in regular utility operation on the Moscow power system with a rating of 25 MW, the largest MHD plant rating in the world at that time. MHD generators operated as

390-698: A topping cycle are currently (2007) less efficient than combined cycle gas turbines . Induction AC motors may be used as generators, turning mechanical energy into electric current. Induction generators operate by mechanically turning their rotor faster than the simultaneous speed, giving negative slip. A regular AC non-simultaneous motor usually can be used as a generator, without any changes to its parts. Induction generators are useful in applications like minihydro power plants, wind turbines, or in reducing high-pressure gas streams to lower pressure, because they can recover energy with relatively simple controls. They do not require another circuit to start working because

468-399: A voltage regulator which operates by modulating the small field current to produce a constant voltage at the battery terminals. Early designs (c.1960s–1970s) used a discrete device mounted elsewhere in the vehicle. Intermediate designs (c.1970s–1990s) incorporated the voltage regulator into the alternator housing. Modern designs do away with the voltage regulator altogether; voltage regulation

546-435: A 3 phase alternator may be connected using either the delta or star ( wye ) connection regime set-up. Brushless versions of these type alternators are also common in larger machinery such as highway trucks and earthmoving machinery. With two oversized shaft bearings as the only wearing parts, these can provide extremely long and reliable service, even exceeding the engine overhaul intervals. Automotive alternators require

624-479: A British electrician, J. E. H. Gordon , in 1882. The first public demonstration of an "alternator system" was given by William Stanley Jr. , an employee of Westinghouse Electric in 1886. Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti established Ferranti, Thompson and Ince in 1882, to market his Ferranti-Thompson Alternator , invented with the help of renowned physicist Lord Kelvin . His early alternators produced frequencies between 100 and 300 Hz . Ferranti went on to design

702-467: A battery nor did it encourage the use of one before it introduced an electric starter in 1919. The owner would have to install the battery themselves and charge it externally.) Starting in the 1919 model year, Ford upgraded the Model T to include an electric starter, which was standard for some models and optional for others. This starter installation also included a battery, charged by a conventional dynamo, and

780-474: A cutout relay to isolate the output coils (the armature) from the battery at low speed; that isolation is provided by the alternator rectifier diodes. Also, most generator regulators include a current limiter; alternators are inherently current-limited. The claw pole design produces an AC waveform that is more efficiently rectified than a sine wave. Despite their names, both 'DC generators' (or 'dynamos') and 'alternators' initially produce alternating current. In

858-459: A dense central band where the iron core and copper windings are tightly packed, and end bands where the windings are more exposed for better heat transfer. The closer core spacing from the rotor improves magnetic efficiency. The smaller, enclosed fans produce less noise, particularly at higher machine speeds. Alternators can also be water-cooled in cars. Larger vehicles may have field coil alternators similar to larger machines. The windings of

SECTION 10

#1732894314819

936-436: A foot pump, such generators can be practically used to charge batteries, and in some cases are designed with an integral inverter. An average "healthy human" can produce a steady 75 watts (0.1 horsepower) for a full eight hour period, while a "first class athlete" can produce approximately 298 watts (0.4 horsepower) for a similar period, at the end of which an undetermined period of rest and recovery will be required. At 298 watts,

1014-561: A full charge is about ~2 km (~1.2 miles), the A/C compressor is automatically switched off in this mode. If the driver presses the accelerator beyond a certain point, the HDi engine restarts automatically as to offer better acceleration and the vehicle goes to AUTO mode. Auto Start-Stop is part of the HYbrid4 system and is available in all modes except for 4WD when the engine is constantly running so that

1092-456: A generator and load is shown in the adjacent diagram. The generator is represented by an abstract generator consisting of an ideal voltage source and an internal impedance. The generator's V G {\displaystyle V_{\text{G}}} and R G {\displaystyle R_{\text{G}}} parameters can be determined by measuring the winding resistance (corrected to operating temperature ), and measuring

1170-430: A generator consists of a rotating part and a stationary part which together form a magnetic circuit : One of these parts generates a magnetic field, the other has a wire winding in which the changing field induces an electric current: The armature can be on either the rotor or the stator, depending on the design, with the field coil or magnet on the other part. Before the connection between magnetism and electricity

1248-608: A large storage battery. When more than one motor/generator is present, as in the Hybrid Synergy Drive used in the Toyota Prius and others, one may operate as a generator and feed the other as a motor, providing an electromechanical path for some of the engine power to flow to the wheels. These motor/generators have considerably more powerful electronic devices for their control than the automotive alternator described above. Electric generator In electricity generation ,

1326-446: A magnetic field produces a current which changes direction with each 180° rotation, an alternating current (AC). However many early uses of electricity required direct current (DC). In the first practical electric generators, called dynamos , the AC was converted into DC with a commutator , a set of rotating switch contacts on the armature shaft. The commutator reversed the connection of

1404-403: A million amperes , because the homopolar generator can be made to have very low internal resistance. A magnetohydrodynamic generator directly extracts electric power from moving hot gases through a magnetic field, without the use of rotating electromagnetic machinery. MHD generators were originally developed because the output of a plasma MHD generator is a flame, well able to heat the boilers of

1482-478: A series of discoveries, the dynamo was succeeded by many later inventions, especially the AC alternator , which was capable of generating alternating current . It is commonly known to be the Synchronous Generators (SGs). The synchronous machines are directly connected to the grid and need to be properly synchronized during startup. Moreover, they are excited with special control to enhance the stability of

1560-438: A sliding magnet moves back and forth through a solenoid , a copper wire or a coil. An alternating current is induced in the wire, or loops of wire, by Faraday's law of induction each time the magnet slides through. This type of generator is used in the Faraday flashlight . Larger linear electricity generators are used in wave power schemes. Grid-connected generators deliver power at a constant frequency. For generators of

1638-434: A small DC voltage . This design was inefficient, due to self-cancelling counterflows of current in regions of the disk that were not under the influence of the magnetic field. While current was induced directly underneath the magnet, the current would circulate backwards in regions that were outside the influence of the magnetic field. This counterflow limited the power output to the pickup wires and induced waste heating of

SECTION 20

#1732894314819

1716-403: A so-called 'DC generator', this AC current is generated in the rotating armature, and then converted to DC by the commutator and brushes. In an 'alternator', the AC current is generated in the stationary stator, and then is converted to DC by the rectifiers (diodes). Typical passenger vehicle and light truck alternators use Lundahl or 'claw-pole' field construction. This uses a shaped iron core on

1794-450: A stable power supply. Electric scooters with regenerative braking have become popular all over the world. Engineers use kinetic energy recovery systems on the scooter to reduce energy consumption and increase its range up to 40-60% by simply recovering energy using the magnetic brake, which generates electric energy for further use. Modern vehicles reach speed up to 25–30 km/h and can run up to 35–40 km. An engine-generator

1872-528: A warm draft can be felt at the left rear quarter panel of the car. The HV battery typically lasts about 150.000-200.000km or 6-10 years before starting to lose capacity noticeably. The vehicle could be driven with a "bad" battery and does not lose the 4WD function, however the EV range is significantly reduced, resulting in poorer fuel economy. The rear electric drive was co-developed by PSA Peugeot-Citroën, Bosch and GKN. It has an integrated clutch mechanism that disengages

1950-417: A water- or wind-powered generator to trickle-charge the batteries. A small propeller , wind turbine or turbine is connected to a low-power generator to supply currents at typical wind or cruising speeds. Recreational vehicles need an extra power supply to power their onboard accessories, including air conditioning units, and refrigerators. An RV power plug is connected to the electric generator to obtain

2028-420: Is above 96%. Large AC generators used in power stations run at carefully controlled speeds and have no constraints on size or weight. They have very high efficiencies as high as 98%. Hybrid electric vehicles replace the separate alternator and starter motor with one or more combined motor/generator(s) that start the internal combustion engine, provide some or all of the mechanical power to the wheels, and charge

2106-562: Is an industrial facility that generates electricity . Most power stations contain one or more generators, or spinning machines converting mechanical power into three-phase electrical power . The relative motion between a magnetic field and a conductor creates an electric current . The energy source harnessed to turn the generator varies widely. Most power stations in the world burn fossil fuels such as coal , oil , and natural gas to generate electricity. Cleaner sources include nuclear power , and increasingly use renewables such as

2184-665: Is limited by fan cooling loss, bearing loss, iron loss, copper loss, and the voltage drop in the diode bridges. Efficiency reduces dramatically at high speeds mainly due to fan resistance. At medium speeds efficiency of today's alternators is 70–80%. This betters very small high-performance permanent magnet alternators, such as those used for bicycle lighting systems, which achieve an efficiency around 60%. Larger permanent magnet electric machines (that can operate as motors or alternators) can achieve today much higher efficiencies. Pellegrino et al., for instance, propose not particularly expensive designs that show ample regions in which efficiency

2262-520: Is now a function of the engine control unit (ECU). The field current is much smaller than the output current of the alternator; for example, a 70 A alternator may need only 2-3 A of field current. The field current is supplied to the rotor windings by slip rings. The low current and relatively smooth slip rings ensure greater reliability and longer life than that obtained by a DC generator with its commutator and higher current being passed through its brushes. The field windings are supplied with power from

2340-455: Is possible with the use of the BOSCH SMG (Separate Motor-Generator) 138/80 (138 mm in diameter, 80 mm long) reversible starter-generator motor. Restarting can occur at any moment, if the HYbrid4 control unit determines that additional power is needed; or the battery needs to be topped up; or the A/C compressor needs to kick in. The engine also restarts when the battery is fully charged and

2418-497: Is provided by one or more electromagnets, which are usually called field coils. Large power generation dynamos are now rarely seen due to the now nearly universal use of alternating current for power distribution. Before the adoption of AC, very large direct-current dynamos were the only means of power generation and distribution. AC has come to dominate due to the ability of AC to be easily transformed to and from very high voltages to permit low losses over large distances. Through

PSA HYbrid4 - Misplaced Pages Continue

2496-415: Is self- excited , i.e. its field electromagnets are powered by the machine's own output. Other types of DC generators use a separate source of direct current to energise their field magnets. A homopolar generator is a DC electrical generator comprising an electrically conductive disc or cylinder rotating in a plane perpendicular to a uniform static magnetic field. A potential difference is created between

2574-405: Is the ability to independently supply electricity, allowing the units to serve as backup power sources. A generator can also be driven by human muscle power (for instance, in field radio station equipment). Human powered electric generators are commercially available, and have been the project of some DIY enthusiasts. Typically operated by means of pedal power, a converted bicycle trainer, or

2652-485: Is the combination of an electrical generator and an engine ( prime mover ) mounted together to form a single piece of self-contained equipment. The engines used are usually piston engines, but gas turbines can also be used, and there are even hybrid diesel-gas units, called dual-fuel units. Many different versions of engine-generators are available – ranging from very small portable petrol powered sets to large turbine installations. The primary advantage of engine-generators

2730-781: The Deptford Power Station for the London Electric Supply Corporation in 1887 using an alternating current system. On its completion in 1891, it was the first truly modern power station, supplying high-voltage AC power that was then "stepped down" for consumer use on each street. This basic system remains in use today around the world. After 1891, polyphase alternators were introduced to supply currents of multiple differing phases. Later alternators were designed for varying alternating-current frequencies between sixteen and about one hundred hertz, for use with arc lighting, incandescent lighting and electric motors. As

2808-668: The Air ), medical and other needs in remote stations and towns. A tachogenerator is an electromechanical device which produces an output voltage proportional to its shaft speed. It may be used for a speed indicator or in a feedback speed control system. Tachogenerators are frequently used to power tachometers to measure the speeds of electric motors, engines, and the equipment they power. Generators generate voltage roughly proportional to shaft speed. With precise construction and design, generators can be built to produce very precise voltages for certain ranges of shaft speeds. An equivalent circuit of

2886-410: The HDi engine running constantly and charging the high voltage battery to offer constant AWD with 60:40 split at speeds up to 120 km/h; ZEV mode is available if the high voltage battery is at least 1/3 full. In this mode the vehicle moves only via the rear electric motor and the performance is limited. ZEV mode is available at speeds of up to ~60 km/h with moderate acceleration, the range on

2964-681: The HYbrid4 system it can deliver up to 27 kW and 200 Nm of power to help provide lower fuel consumption in AUTO and ZEV mode, better grip in 4WD mode and enhanced acceleration in SPORT mode. The SMG 180/120 is also used in the Fiat 500e as main traction motor and in the front axle of the Porsche 918 Spyder. HYbrid4 incorporates another Bosch permanent magnet synchronous motor, the SMG 138/80 (138 mm in diameter, 80 mm long) in

3042-473: The armature winding to the circuit every 180° rotation of the shaft, creating a pulsing DC current. One of the first dynamos was built by Hippolyte Pixii in 1832. The dynamo was the first electrical generator capable of delivering power for industry. The Woolrich Electrical Generator of 1844, now in Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum , is the earliest electrical generator used in an industrial process. It

3120-436: The armature winding. When the generator first starts to turn, the small amount of remanent magnetism present in the iron core provides a magnetic field to get it started, generating a small current in the armature. This flows through the field coils, creating a larger magnetic field which generates a larger armature current. This "bootstrap" process continues until the magnetic field in the core levels off due to saturation and

3198-402: The assistance of power electronic devices, these can regulate the output frequency to a desired value over a wider range of generator shaft speeds. Alternatively, a standard generator can be used with no attempt to regulate frequency, and the resulting power converted to the desired output frequency with a rectifier and converter combination. Allowing a wider range of prime mover speeds can improve

PSA HYbrid4 - Misplaced Pages Continue

3276-458: The average "healthy human" becomes exhausted within 10 minutes. The net electrical power that can be produced will be less, due to the efficiency of the generator. Portable radio receivers with a crank are made to reduce battery purchase requirements, see clockwork radio . During the mid 20th century, pedal powered radios were used throughout the Australian outback , to provide schooling ( School of

3354-454: The battery via the ignition switch and regulator. A parallel circuit supplies the "charge" warning indicator and is earthed via the regulator (which is why the indicator is on when the ignition is on but the engine is not running). Once the engine is running and the alternator is generating power, a diode feeds the field current from the alternator main output equalizing the voltage across the warning indicator which goes off. The wire supplying

3432-409: The bicycle's tire on an as-needed basis, and hub dynamos which are directly attached to the bicycle's drive train. The name is conventional as they are small permanent-magnet alternators, not self-excited DC machines as are dynamos . Some electric bicycles are capable of regenerative braking , where the drive motor is used as a generator to recover some energy during braking. Sailing boats may use

3510-597: The center of the disc and the rim (or ends of the cylinder), the electrical polarity depending on the direction of rotation and the orientation of the field. It is also known as a unipolar generator , acyclic generator , disk dynamo , or Faraday disc . The voltage is typically low, on the order of a few volts in the case of small demonstration models, but large research generators can produce hundreds of volts, and some systems have multiple generators in series to produce an even larger voltage. They are unusual in that they can produce tremendous electric current, some more than

3588-480: The coils to make good sparks. The Model T incorporated its magneto into the engine flywheel. The first Model Ts used the magneto solely for the trembler coil ignition. Beginning with the 1915 model year, Ford added electric headlights, also powered by the magneto. The magneto circuit was strictly AC, with no battery included. (There was a switch on the ignition coils to use a battery instead, which could be helpful when starting in cold weather, but Ford neither provided

3666-400: The compact alternator layout. This is electrically and magnetically similar, but has improved air cooling. Better cooling permits more power from a smaller machine. The casing has distinctive radial vent slots at each end and now encloses the fan. Two fans are used, one at each end, and the airflow is semi-radial, entering axially and leaving radially outwards. The stator windings now consist of

3744-436: The copper disc. Later homopolar generators would solve this problem by using an array of magnets arranged around the disc perimeter to maintain a steady field effect in one current-flow direction. Another disadvantage was that the output voltage was very low, due to the single current path through the magnetic flux. Experimenters found that using multiple turns of wire in a coil could produce higher, more useful voltages. Since

3822-407: The difficulty of insulating machines that produced very high voltages, electrostatic generators had low power ratings, and were never used for generation of commercially significant quantities of electric power. Their only practical applications were to power early X-ray tubes , and later in some atomic particle accelerators . The operating principle of electromagnetic generators was discovered in

3900-606: The electrical system when its engine is running. Until the 1960s, automobiles used DC dynamo generators with commutators . As silicon-diode rectifiers became widely available and affordable, the alternator gradually replaced the dynamo. This was encouraged by the increasing electrical power required for cars in this period, with increasing loads from larger headlamps, electric wipers, heated rear windows , and other accessories. The modern type of vehicle alternators were first used in military applications during World War II , to power radio equipment on specialist vehicles. After

3978-416: The engine compartment to serve as a high-voltage starter/alternator for the start-stop system. It is also responsible for supplying power to the rear-wheel drive and charging the high voltage battery. Some of the common problems with the HYbrid4 system include: Alternator (automotive) An alternator is a type of electric generator used in modern automobiles to charge the battery and to power

SECTION 50

#1732894314819

4056-439: The field current is often referred to as the "exciter" wire. The drawback of this arrangement is that if the warning lamp burns out or the "exciter" wire is disconnected, no current reaches the field windings and the alternator will not generate power. Some warning indicator circuits are equipped with a resistor in parallel with the lamp that permit excitation current to flow if the warning lamp burns out. The driver should check that

4134-413: The first major industrial uses of electricity. For example, in the 1870s Siemens used electromagnetic dynamos to power electric arc furnaces for the production of metals and other materials. The dynamo machine that was developed consisted of a stationary structure, which provides the magnetic field, and a set of rotating windings which turn within that field. On larger machines the constant magnetic field

4212-476: The generator reaches a steady state power output. Very large power station generators often utilize a separate smaller generator to excite the field coils of the larger. In the event of a severe widespread power outage where islanding of power stations has occurred, the stations may need to perform a black start to excite the fields of their largest generators, in order to restore customer power service. A dynamo uses commutators to produce direct current. It

4290-426: The lights were now powered by the battery. However, the flywheel magneto still powered the ignition, and since models without the starter had no battery, they continued to use magneto-powered lights. Alternators have several advantages over direct-current generators ( dynamos ). Alternators are: A set of rectifiers ( diode bridge ) is required to convert AC to DC . To provide direct current with low ripple ,

4368-413: The output voltage is proportional to the number of turns, generators could be easily designed to produce any desired voltage by varying the number of turns. Wire windings became a basic feature of all subsequent generator designs. Independently of Faraday, Ányos Jedlik started experimenting in 1827 with the electromagnetic rotating devices which he called electromagnetic self-rotors . In the prototype of

4446-443: The overall energy production of an installation, at the cost of more complex generators and controls. For example, where a wind turbine operating at fixed frequency might be required to spill energy at high wind speeds, a variable speed system can allow recovery of energy contained during periods of high wind speed. A power station , also known as a power plant or powerhouse and sometimes generating station or generating plant ,

4524-472: The power system. Alternating current generating systems were known in simple forms from Michael Faraday 's original discovery of the magnetic induction of electric current . Faraday himself built an early alternator. His machine was a "rotating rectangle", whose operation was heteropolar : each active conductor passed successively through regions where the magnetic field was in opposite directions. Large two-phase alternating current generators were built by

4602-438: The rear drive at speeds over 120 km/h to provide less drag and better fuel efficiency at highway speeds. Reverse gear is not mechanical, instead the current going through the electric motor is reversed. The Bosch SMG (“separate motor generator”) 180/120 (180 mm in diameter, 120 mm long) electric motor is used as the traction motor in the HYbrid4 system. The unit weighs only 32 kg and is a permanent magnet synchronous motor. In

4680-399: The requirements for larger scale power generation increased, a new limitation rose: the magnetic fields available from permanent magnets. Diverting a small amount of the power generated by the generator to an electromagnetic field coil allowed the generator to produce substantially more power. This concept was dubbed self-excitation . The field coils are connected in series or parallel with

4758-399: The reversible alternator can top up the battery and provide constant rear drive. The engine automatically shuts down whenever possible (cruising downhill at speeds of up to 85 km/h when the battery is not fully charged or cruising on a level surface at speeds of up to ~60 km/h), when coming to a stop the HDi engine shuts down at speeds below 30 km/h. The Auto Start-Stop function

SECTION 60

#1732894314819

4836-424: The rotor to produce a multi-pole field from a single coil winding. The poles of the rotor look like fingers of two hands interlocked with each other. The coil is mounted axially inside this and field current is supplied by slip rings and carbon brushes. These alternators have their field and stator windings cooled by axial airflow, produced by an external fan attached to the drive belt pulley. Modern vehicles now use

4914-449: The single-pole electric starter (finished between 1852 and 1854) both the stationary and the revolving parts were electromagnetic. It was also the discovery of the principle of dynamo self-excitation , which replaced permanent magnet designs. He also may have formulated the concept of the dynamo in 1861 (before Siemens and Wheatstone ) but did not patent it as he thought he was not the first to realize this. A coil of wire rotating in

4992-469: The state of charge and acceleration/charging demand. To offer a longer battery pack life the HCU (hybrid control unit) never charges the batteries over 90%, nor discharges them under 30%. The battery pack has an independent air cooling system which can operate at different flow rates depending on the cooling requirements of the unit. The cooling system can be operative even if the vehicle is locked; operation noise and

5070-510: The stator field. Wheatstone's design was similar to Siemens', with the difference that in the Siemens design the stator electromagnets were in series with the rotor, but in Wheatstone's design they were in parallel. The use of electromagnets rather than permanent magnets greatly increased the power output of a dynamo and enabled high power generation for the first time. This invention led directly to

5148-611: The sun , wind , waves and running water . Motor vehicles require electrical energy to power their instrumentation, keep the engine itself operating, and recharge their batteries. Until about the 1960s motor vehicles tended to use DC generators (dynamos) with electromechanical regulators. Following the historical trend above and for many of the same reasons, these have now been replaced by alternators with built-in rectifier circuits. Bicycles require energy to power running lights and other equipment. There are two common kinds of generator in use on bicycles: bottle dynamos which engage

5226-476: The synchronous or induction type, the primer mover speed turning the generator shaft must be at a particular speed (or narrow range of speed) to deliver power at the required utility frequency. Mechanical speed-regulating devices may waste a significant fraction of the input energy to maintain a required fixed frequency. Where it is impractical or undesired to tightly regulate the speed of the prime mover, doubly fed electric machines may be used as generators. With

5304-421: The turning magnetic field is provided by induction from the one they have. They also do not require speed governor equipment as they inherently operate at the connected grid frequency. An induction generator must be powered with a leading voltage; this is usually done by connection to an electrical grid, or by powering themselves with phase correcting capacitors. In the simplest form of linear electric generator,

5382-425: The vehicle is going downhill, as to offer additional engine braking, no fuel is used in this mode, but ZERO EMISSION is not displayed, as the HDi engine is rotating. The high voltage battery consist of 42 packs of 4 D-size SANYO batteries . The nominal voltage of the battery is 201.6 V, the nominal capacity is 1.1kWh and the peak power output is 31kW. The battery operates in the ~150–270 V range depending on

5460-419: The vehicle strives for the best fuel economy - throttle response is slow and the automated manual transmission shifts early, furthermore the vehicle switches to ZEV mode as often as possible; SPORT mode offers a combined power output of 200 hp (150 kW) and 500 Nm at speeds up to 120 km/h, throttle response is very aggressive and the engine revs up to 4000 RPM before upshifts; 4WD mode keeps

5538-686: The voltage supplied by the alternator. Older automobiles with minimal lighting may have had an alternator capable of producing only 30 amperes . Typical passenger car and light truck alternators are rated around 50–70 A, though higher ratings are becoming more common, especially as there is more load on the vehicle's electrical system with air conditioning , electric power steering and other electrical systems. Very large alternators used on buses, heavy equipment or emergency vehicles may produce 300 A. Semi-trucks usually have alternators which output 140 A. Very large alternators may be water-cooled or oil-cooled. Efficiency of automotive alternators

5616-664: The war, other vehicles with high electrical demands — such as ambulances and radio taxis — could also be fitted with optional alternators. Alternators were first introduced as standard equipment on a production car by the Chrysler Corporation on the Valiant in 1960, several years ahead of Ford and General Motors . Some early automobiles, like the Ford Model T , used a different sort of charging system: an engine-driven magneto which generated low-voltage alternating current that

5694-498: The warning indicator is on when the engine is stopped; otherwise, there might not be any indication of a failure of the belt which may also drive the cooling water pump . Some alternators will self-excite when the engine reaches a certain speed. In recent years, alternator regulators are linked to the vehicle's computer system and various factors including air temperature obtained from the intake air temperature sensor, battery temperature sensor and engine load are evaluated in adjusting

5772-409: The years of 1831–1832 by Michael Faraday . The principle, later called Faraday's law , is that an electromotive force is generated in an electrical conductor which encircles a varying magnetic flux . Faraday also built the first electromagnetic generator, called the Faraday disk ; a type of homopolar generator , using a copper disc rotating between the poles of a horseshoe magnet . It produced

5850-429: Was discovered, electrostatic generators were invented. They operated on electrostatic principles, by using moving electrically charged belts, plates and disks that carried charge to a high potential electrode. The charge was generated using either of two mechanisms: electrostatic induction or the triboelectric effect . Such generators generated very high voltage and low current . Because of their inefficiency and

5928-635: Was invented in 1831 by British scientist Michael Faraday . Generators provide nearly all the power for electrical grids . In addition to electricity- and motion-based designs, photovoltaic and fuel cell powered generators use solar power and hydrogen-based fuels, respectively, to generate electrical output. The reverse conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy is done by an electric motor , and motors and generators are very similar. Many motors can generate electricity from mechanical energy. Electromagnetic generators fall into one of two broad categories, dynamos and alternators. Mechanically,

6006-434: Was supplied to trembler coils , which provided the high voltage needed to generate ignition sparks. (This was different from a true ignition magneto , which generates high voltage directly.) Since such a magneto system only depended on the engine's motion to generate current, it could even be used when starting a manually cranked engine, provided the crank was pulled sharply, so that the magneto would produce enough current for

6084-590: Was used by the firm of Elkingtons for commercial electroplating . The modern dynamo, fit for use in industrial applications, was invented independently by Sir Charles Wheatstone , Werner von Siemens and Samuel Alfred Varley . Varley took out a patent on 24 December 1866, while Siemens and Wheatstone both announced their discoveries on 17 January 1867 by delivering papers at the Royal Society . The "dynamo-electric machine" employed self-powering electromagnetic field coils rather than permanent magnets to create

#818181