What Is an Overcharge for an Alternator?
An alternator is a generator that produces alternating current. In a motor vehicle, an alternator, with a rectifier that converts alternating current to direct current, is used to charge the battery and power the electrical systems.
Other People Are Reading
-
Electrical Components
-
If the voltage regulator that controls the output of the alternator fails, the alternator will overcharge the battery. This can mean that electrical components, such as bulbs and fuses, which are not designed to handle excessive electrical current, can burn out; both headlight bulbs failing at the same time is a classic sign of an overcharging alternator.
Battery
-
If too much current is supplied to the battery, the sulfuric acid electrolyte will evaporate away much too quickly, drying out the battery plates and causing the battery to fail. Overcharged batteries have been known to explode.
-
Testing
-
You can test an alternator for overcharging by connecting a voltmeter across the positive and negative terminals with the engine running. A voltmeter reading of 15 volts or more suggests overcharging.
-
