What.. alternates by them to recharge the battery? How is it recharging? In a gas car? While its off? I feel like an idiot!
In: Engineering
It’s called an alternator because it generates alternating current (AC) voltage. Then uses rectifier diodes to convert the AC to 12v DC which is what your vehicle’s electrical system is designed to store and use.
AC generators are used instead of DC because it’s much easier to regulate the voltage output under load. Old cars used DC generators but the output power was very limited and they didn’t generate full voltage at engine idle.
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