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02-28-2009, 11:53 PM | #1 |
Drives: 2009 Yaris 2 Dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 9
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solar trickle charger and alternator
hi,
I was thinking about buying a solar trickle charger to increase my FE, but then I realized that it wouldn't make a difference if the alternator for the Yaris was not load sensitive (alternator still runs when the battery is fully charged). Does anyone know for sure if the alternator for the Yaris is load sensitive? |
03-01-2009, 02:23 AM | #2 |
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Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007
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Since the alternator is on a fixed pulley, it's always spinning and always causing some parasitic power loss on the system.
Is that what you mean by load sensitive?
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03-01-2009, 03:07 AM | #3 |
Drives: 2009 Yaris 2 Dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 9
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kinda...I mean..does the alternator check for the voltage in the battery and adjust its amount of spinning when it knows how much recharge it needs to do?
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03-01-2009, 09:44 AM | #4 |
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No. It's on a belt, along with the crank pulley, the water pump and the A/C. So it spins with the motor regardless of of whether it is charging the system or not.
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03-01-2009, 06:16 PM | #5 |
ekodrvr
Drives: 2002 white subaru impreza wrx Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Spokane, WA
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it varies the charge rate based on sensing the voltage in the system, by adjusting the electromagnetic field in the alternator... this is varied by the voltage regulator, which is connected to the rotor inside... the then powered rotor spins past the stator which causes electromagnetic induction, which is power generation... the power is generated as three phase, alternating(AC) current, which then flows through the rectifier which is a stack of 6 diodes(one way electricity valves) and then comes out of the alternator as DC current... if you feel like reading, take a look at this...
Description: The alternator consists of a spinning set of electrical windings called a rotor, a stationary set of windings called a stator, a rectifier assembly, a set of brushes to maintain electrical contact with the rotor, and a pulley. All of these parts except the pulley are contained in an aluminum housing. Today?s alternators use compact, electronic voltage regulators that may be housed inside the alternator or the voltage regulator function may be handled by the vehicle?s powertrain control module (PCM). Purpose: The alternator generates direct current for recharging the battery and for powering vehicle electrical loads. Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Have the alternator?s drive belt tension checked at every oil change. A loose belt can reduce alternator output and run down your car?s battery. Each spring, prior to travel season, it?s wise to have your car?s charging system tested as part of a comprehensive starting, charging and battery test. This test will determine whether your car?s alternator is putting out the proper amount of current and voltage. Your car?s alternator is designed to recharge the battery after slight discharging such as engine starting; the alternator is not designed for charging heavily discharged (?dead?) batteries. Relying on the alternator to charge a heavily discharged battery can overload the alternator and cause damage. In such cases, use a battery charger instead. An alternator problem can cause a discharged battery, poor accessory and light operation, frequent bulb replacement, repeat voltage regulator failures, erratic engine operation, or a dashboard warning light to illuminate. To pinpoint the cause, have your car?s charging system checked out by a qualified service technician. Life expectancy of the average alternator is 75-100 thousand miles. Standard Automobile Alternator A key component of an automobile's charging system, which provides current to recharge the battery and develops electricity to power all other electrical components when the engine is running, is the alternator. The other component of the charging system is the voltage regulator. The basic function of the alternator is to generate the electricity required to start and run the automobile, while the regulator is designed to control the amount of voltage that circulates through the system. This discussion will focus entirely upon the alternator, specifically, the principle of operation by which it works and its main components. An alternator (Fig. 1) consists of rotor assembly, a stator assembly, and a rectifier mounted in a housing. Figure 1. Parts of an Alternator Alternator Housing. The housing is usually made up of two pieces of die-cast aluminum. Aluminum is used because it is a nonmagnetic, lightweight material that provides good heat dissipation. Bearings supporting the rotor assembly are mounted in the front and rear housing. The front bearing is usually pressed into the front housing or onto the rotor shaft. It is usually a factory-lubricated ball bearing. The rear bearing is usually installed with a light press fit in the rear housing. Stator Assembly. The stator is clamped between the front and the rear housing. A number of steel stampings are riveted together to form its frame. Three windings around the stator frame are arranged in layers in each of the slots on the frame. At the other end, they are connected into the rectification assembly. Rotor Assembly. The rotor assembly consists of a rotor shaft, a winding around an iron core, two pole pieces, and slip rings. The rotor is pressed into the core. Six-fingered, malleable, iron pole pieces are pressed onto the shaft against each end of the winding core. They are placed so that the fingers mesh but do not touch. When direct current is passed through the field coil winding, the fingers become alternately north and south poles. A slip ring assembly is pressed on to the rear end of the rotor shaft and connected to the two ends of the field winding. Two brushes are held against the slip rings by springs, usually mounted in plastic brush holders that support the brushes and prevent brush sticking. Each brush is connected into the circuit by a flexible copper lead wire. The brushes ride on the slip rings and are connected through a switch to the battery. When the switch is closed, current from the battery passes through one brush, through the slip ring, and then through the field winding. After leaving the field winding, current flows through the other slip ring and brush before returning to the battery through the ground return path. The flow of electrical energy through the field winding, called field current, creates the magnetic field for the rotor. Rectifier Assembly. The rectifier assembly consists of six diodes mounted either in the rear housing or in a separate small housing called a rectifier bridge. Three of the diodes are connected to ground, and three are mounted in an insulator. Since the mounting assembly carries off heat caused by the operation of the diode, it is often called a heat sink. A fan and pulley assembly is either pressed onto the rotor shaft or held with a nut. The pulley drives the rotor through an engine accessory drive belt. The fan behind the alternator pulley pulls air in through vents at the rear of the alternator to cool the diodes. |
03-01-2009, 10:35 PM | #6 |
Drives: bone f*ing stock Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CA east bay
Posts: 234
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well defined.
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03-01-2009, 10:50 PM | #7 |
ekodrvr
Drives: 2002 white subaru impreza wrx Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 776
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thank you... i just finished learning about auto electric systems last quarter at spokane community college
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03-04-2009, 09:55 AM | #8 | |
Learn to Relax
Drives: 2007, Meteorite, LB Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 2,070
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Quote:
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03-04-2009, 12:22 PM | #9 |
Nothing beats a Toyota!
Drives: 2013 Yaris 5 dr liftback Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 564
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Hey...I have to fly to Spokane at the end of the month. Is there any really great restaurants that are a must do in Spokane?
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03-04-2009, 01:44 PM | #10 | |
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Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007
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Quote:
Have I got that wrong somehow?
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Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific. |
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03-04-2009, 03:23 PM | #11 |
ekodrvr
Drives: 2002 white subaru impreza wrx Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 776
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depends on how much you want to spend... clinkerdaggers is pretty good but expensive... also depends on what kind of food you like... let me know what you like to eat... pm me
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03-04-2009, 03:25 PM | #12 |
ekodrvr
Drives: 2002 white subaru impreza wrx Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 776
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yes there is a mechanical drain, but it is very minimal... the larger portion of the drain is how much energy is being used by the alternater to magnetize the rotor of the alternater... i will look it up in my book and type in the section of the chapter from the auto electric book on this when i get home later
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03-05-2009, 03:24 AM | #13 | |
Learn to Relax
Drives: 2007, Meteorite, LB Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 2,070
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Quote:
The mechanical power drain would increase with increased power draw. |
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03-05-2009, 11:42 AM | #14 |
Drives: Neon, yaris soon Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Nashville
Posts: 2
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They are on a pulley yes, but the regulator increases the "Field strength" to increase amperage output of the alternator, so when the Car needs more juice, the engine will work harder to spin the armature through the field windings.
-Nick |
03-05-2009, 12:07 PM | #15 |
Nothing beats a Toyota!
Drives: 2013 Yaris 5 dr liftback Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 564
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Anything under $30.00 a meal.....I eat anything that doesn't eat me first!
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Big Dave Indianapolis, IN Synthetic Oil....its in my car.....for at least 10,000 miles! |
03-05-2009, 12:50 PM | #16 |
ekodrvr
Drives: 2002 white subaru impreza wrx Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 776
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03-05-2009, 04:18 PM | #17 | ||
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Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007
Location: Canoga Park, CA
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Quote:
I didn't know that the mechanical resistance increased or was variable. I figured the alternator makes what it makes at all times and the electricity produced was regulated into the system a different way. Quote:
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Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific. |
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03-05-2009, 04:52 PM | #18 |
Drives: 2009 Yaris 2 Dr HB Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 9
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so just to be clear
when a solar trickle charger is used, the car battery is always fully charged, the amperage output of the alternator doesn't need to be increased, the engine doesn't need to work harder, and fuel is saved....correct? |
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