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alternator voltage regulator

Hello,

How exactly does the voltage regulator on an alternator work? In
particular, how is the set point voltage set?

I've googled around a bit, but haven't found an answer to the voltage
set point question...

Thanks,

Mike Darrett
 
M

Moray Cuthill

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello,

How exactly does the voltage regulator on an alternator work? In
particular, how is the set point voltage set?

I've googled around a bit, but haven't found an answer to the voltage
set point question...

Thanks,

Mike Darrett

In a nutshell, the voltage regulator controls the power being supplied to
the rotor, which in turn controls the alternator output. The voltage
regulator monitors the output voltage (normally done with a zenor diode) and
increases/decrease the rotor power accordingly.
 
J

Jim Thompson

Jan 1, 1970
0
In a nutshell, the voltage regulator controls the power being supplied to
the rotor, which in turn controls the alternator output. The voltage
regulator monitors the output voltage (normally done with a zenor diode) and
increases/decrease the rotor power accordingly.

By PWMing the field (rotor), but NOT done with a zener... they've been
ASICs since the mid-60s.

...Jim Thompson
 
T

Tim Shoppa

Jan 1, 1970
0
By PWMing the field (rotor),
but NOT done with a zener... they've been
ASICs since the mid-60s.

So what's the "inner" voltage reference if not a Zener? Bandgaps in
the 60's? Forward biased diodes?

Tim.
 
J

Jim Thompson

Jan 1, 1970
0
So what's the "inner" voltage reference if not a Zener? Bandgaps in
the 60's? Forward biased diodes?

Tim.

BG/Diode-combinations to match the TC of lead-acid cells. See my
website for the pertinent patents ;-)

...Jim Thompson
 
M

Moray Cuthill

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim Thompson said:
By PWMing the field (rotor), but NOT done with a zener... they've been
ASICs since the mid-60s.

It was 'in a nutshell'. All the diagrams I got shown at college off
alternator regulators had a zener diode as the base off the voltage
regulator, with other components attached to allow for filtering, load
sensing, temperature compensation, amplification...etc depending on the
variation. I'm sure many different manufacturers have their own version off
the circuits.
 
Jim said:
BG/Diode-combinations to match the TC of lead-acid cells. See my
website for the pertinent patents ;-)

...Jim Thompson


Neat... so are today's alternator voltage regulators based on the 1970
US patent 3,546,563?

Mike
 
J

Jim Thompson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Neat... so are today's alternator voltage regulators based on the 1970
US patent 3,546,563?

Mike

Pretty much so. The primary difference today is constant frequency
PWM, which gives better loop stability, but, back in the'60's, no one
wanted to pay an extra penny for anything, particularly if it was only
for better performance :)

...Jim Thompson
 
J

John Popelish

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hello,

How exactly does the voltage regulator on an alternator work? In
particular, how is the set point voltage set?

I've googled around a bit, but haven't found an answer to the voltage
set point question...

Thanks,

Mike Darrett

This page has some schematics (poorly reproduced, sorry) that show a
1970s version.
 
K

Ken Taylor

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim Thompson said:
On 23 Feb 2005 13:24:34 -0800, [email protected]
wrote:

...................
back in the'60's, no one
wanted to pay an extra penny for anything, particularly if it was only
for better performance :)

...Jim Thompson
--
Differing from today in what way? :)

Ken
 
J

Jim Thompson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Differing from today in what way? :)

Ken

Nothing really. But today, so much is possible on-chip. Back then it
would have been an additional external-to-chip capacitor, and there
already was one external cap.

...Jim Thompson
 
D

DaveM

Jan 1, 1970
0
John Popelish said:
This page has some schematics (poorly reproduced, sorry) that show a
1970s version.

Which page is that, John??
BTW, this thread reminded me of my first exposure to automobile voltage
regulators. I had never paid them any mind until I saw this article.
It came in the form of an idea for design in an old Electronics Magazine
Designer's Casebook. It used a 555 timer as a PWM regulator of sorts to
switch the field current of an alternator. I actually built one from the
article and used it to replace the defunct regulator in an Opel Manta that I
once owned. Darn thing worked like a champ for the 3-4 years that I had the
car. I guess it was still working when the car finally went to the junque
heap. I scanned the article and posted it to A.B.S.E. under the same
subject line.

I've used the circuit idea for a few other things too... like a thermostat
for fan control, battery charger, etc. I even thought of using it to
replace the old mercury switch in my home HVAC system, but never got a round
toit.

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just subsitute the appropriate characters in
the address)

Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!
 
W

Warren Weber

Jan 1, 1970
0
DaveM said:
Which page is that, John??
BTW, this thread reminded me of my first exposure to automobile voltage
regulators. I had never paid them any mind until I saw this article.
It came in the form of an idea for design in an old Electronics Magazine
Designer's Casebook. It used a 555 timer as a PWM regulator of sorts to
switch the field current of an alternator. I actually built one from the
article and used it to replace the defunct regulator in an Opel Manta that
I once owned. Darn thing worked like a champ for the 3-4 years that I had
the car. I guess it was still working when the car finally went to the
junque heap. I scanned the article and posted it to A.B.S.E. under the
same subject line.

I've used the circuit idea for a few other things too... like a
thermostat for fan control, battery charger, etc. I even thought of using
it to replace the old mercury switch in my home HVAC system, but never got
a round toit.

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just subsitute the appropriate characters
in the address)

Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!
This Reminds me of my first car. A 1933 chev sedan. Generator had 3
brushes, one to determine output. No regulation, just a cut out relay. I
wanted to boost output to the limit of the generator. So I needed a
regulator. Otherwise I would overcharge the battery. Since my income was
$0.75 per hour I found a used Ford regulator that was for positive ground
system. I studied the wiring of regulator and reworked it to operate on
negative ground. All of this because I replaced bulb headlights with sealed
beam lights that required higher amps. No longer work on my vehicles, too
complicated. W W
 
P

Pat Ford

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim Thompson said:
BG/Diode-combinations to match the TC of lead-acid cells. See my
website for the pertinent patents ;-)

...Jim Thompson

It would be nice if the patents were on your site too, or did I miss them.
You did some cool stuff shame you cant post some the older stuff you did to
help us youngens 8*)
Pat
 
J

Jim Thompson

Jan 1, 1970
0
It would be nice if the patents were on your site too, or did I miss them.
You did some cool stuff shame you cant post some the older stuff you did to
help us youngens 8*)
Pat

I've had multiple requests for that. I'll see what I can do.

...Jim Thompson
 
R

Rich Grise

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hey guys,
When I load this page, I cannot read a whole line unless I slide the
page back and forth. There must be an
easy change to make so I can see the whole line.
Any ideas? I'm using XP Pro.
(not the first time I've had this problem.)

It would depend on your screen resolution. There are three images side-by-
side, embedded in an HTML table, which won't wrap - it's a total of
320 * 3 + 8 = 968 pixels wide. If you only have an 800x600 display,
there's nothing you can do but scroll sideways. Or set your resolution
to 1024x768 or higher.

Sorry.
Rich
 
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