Are you knowledgeable how your car work? If so, then you probably knew that your vehicle needs adequate power to keep its motor and components running smoothly.
In this blog post, I will discuss to you the basics of car electrical system, how it works and its three major components – battery, alternator and starter.
Of course, there are other electrical parts that needs to be mentioned here such as fuses, wires and relays, but I will discuss these parts on a separate post as this is just a “basic” car electrical system article.
So what are we waiting for? Lets get started!
Electrical System is a Must in Any Type of Vehicle
Today’s automobiles are quite technologically advanced as most are now equipped with 100% electric motor, while some are hybrids that are composed of both traditional combustion engine and electric motor.
Well these cars obviously do have electrical systems of their own, a bigger battery pact should I say. But I will give you an overview of the electrical system of a conventional or common combustion engines, and not electric vehicles. And believe it or not, there are a ton of people who still preferred these types of car instead of those electric ones.
In a combustion engine car, it needs adequate power to start all its components such as the engine itself, infotainment system, AC system, car’s computing box, lighting system, sensors and many others.
So as a car guy, you must have proper knowledge on your car’s electrical components and how it works. Lets start with the basics here – battery, starter and alternator.
Alternator
Your alternator is where the power is being generated so it’s like your car’s power plant. Most alternators are located beneath or beside your engine where your serpentine belts are found. The alternator pulley is connected via a belt to your engine’s other belt-driven components such as the compressor and power steering.
When your engine is running, your alternator’s pulley will keep on spinning which generates power. This helps keeps your battery charged and the entire electrical system of your car going.
Your alternator has an electro magnetic induction which provides alternative current (AC), hence why it’s called “alternator”. Every alternator has a diode circuit which converts AC to DC (direct current), the current that car batteries needed to get charged.
Each car has its own type of alternators. Small vehicles use low ampere alternators while large SUV’s and trucks have 90 and above ampere alternators.
Remember, if your alternator is faulty, your car electrical system will perform erratically, your battery will discharge, and eventually your car will stall, lose power or won’t even start at all. If this is your case, have your alternator checked by a qualified car electrician for immediate repair.
Battery
Why cars need batteries you ask? Well, your vehicle won’t start if it doesn’t have a battery as it provides the right electrical current to your entire car system, specially including your ignition and fuel systems, which are both responsible for creating combustion, so your engine will start and function properly.
Since I mentioned above that the alternator charges the battery, it means that the battery alone can give power to some of your car’s auxiliary components such as headlights, radio, windows and much more, even if your engine is off.
However, like batteries in most gadgets, batteries in vehicles needs continuous charging from the alternator to prevent it from completely getting drained.
Also, there are dedicated battery sizes for each type of cars. The smaller your car, the small capacity battery your car needs and vice versa.
Starter
Derived from its name, “starter” is the device that helps your engine start and running. The battery supplies power to your starter motor which triggers the flywheel to rotate, turns the crankshaft and initiates your engine’s pistons.
Faulty starter will prevent your engine to start. A simple diagnosis is to hear cranking noise when you turn on the ignition switch. When you hear your engine cranks, it commonly means that your starter is still functioning well. But if you don’t hear any cranking sound, then your starter is likely defective already.
Excessive power draw and incorrect key ignition habit makes the starter to worn out faster. If you have trouble starting your car, then have a qualified electrical technician to take a look at your starter.
Fuse, Wires and Grounding Points
You won’t be able to supply the power needed by your car if you don’t have grounding (earth), wires and fuses. These are the workforce of your car’s electrical system.
Fuses and relays help keep your electronics and entire electrical system safe, preventing unwanted burn out of wires and device breakage. There are different types of fuse inside your car, some are mini fuse while other components use relays instead.
Wires acts like bridges to your entire car electrical system. Vehicles use different wires for different purposes. For example, a major power wire from the alternator to the battery uses a 4 to 6 gauge wires. But small components such as headlights, radio wires and many others use 16 to 18 gauge wires.
Grounding is simply another form of wires that is a critical component of your car’s electrical system. All your vehicle’s electronics and engine-powered systems do have grounding points, which are connected to the car’s chassis.
Conclusion
To have a reliable car, you need a working electrical system at all time. If just one of the mentioned components get faulty, your car will lose power and will eventually not going to start.
I have a video discussing the same topic in my Youtube channel. Enjoy watching it with English subtitle. Until next time folks!
