Alternators in cars: why are they called that and how do they recharge your battery??

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What.. alternates by them to recharge the battery? How is it recharging? In a gas car? While its off? I feel like an idiot!

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13 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

DC generators output based on speed and at idle don’t produce enough voltage to charge a battery. AC voltage can be increased with a transformer and then rectified to a rippled DC with just a set of diodes. So the alternator can charge the battery at any engine speed.

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