Charging Systems: Alternators: Description

Main alternator components are two end housings, stator, rotor and rectifiers. Housings are vented at both ends and around the circumference. Rotor consists of a field coil encased between two six-fingered overlapping sections which are the pole pieces and produces a 12 pole magnetic field. Ends of field coil are connected to slip rings and battery is connected to field windings through brushes and slip rings. Rotor shaft is supported at drive end by ball bearings and at opposite end by a roller bearing. Both bearings are pre-lubricated. Three silicone diode rectifiers having negative polarity are pressed into end housing and three similar diodes having positive polarity are pressed into a die-cast aluminum sink. Alternator output is controlled by a voltage regulator.