
Charging System
WARNING
To avoid personal injury and/or vehicle damage, refer to the service precautions at the
beginning of this section.
General Information
An automobile’s charging system provides electrical power for the operation of the ignition,
starting system, and all electrical accessories. The battery serves as a storage device
holding a supply of electricity and is regenerated by the generator when the engine is
running. The generator is constantly in motion while the engine is running. To prevent too
much energy from being stored in the battery the generator is equipped with a regulating
device designed to read the amount of voltage in the battery and to turn itself on and off at
specific times to maintain the proper charge. On newer vehicles, the computer also
maintains a vigil on battery storage capacity activating the regulator when needed.
Storage batteries are a chemical device incorporating parallel lead plates in a tank
containing a solution of sulfuric acid and water. Adjacent plates are dissimilar and the
chemical reaction of the two dissimilar plates produces electrical energy. The chemical
reaction is reversible, so that when the generator is producing current greater than that
produced by the battery, electricity is forced into the battery, and the battery is returned to
full charge.
The generator is belt driven by a p
ulley from the engine’s crankshaft. Generators actually
produce alternating current (AC) commonly used in homes. As the current leaves the
generator it is converted to direct current (DC) that is used by the storage battery, ignition
and accessories. A generator contains a rotating field winding (or rotor), a stationary
induction winding (or stator) and a diode assembly (or rectifier bridge). There is also a
voltage regulator built into the generator and two internal fans to promote cooling to the
circuits.
As the generator spins with engine rpm, two stationary carbon brushes ride on two rotating
slip rings located at one end of the rotor. The rotor field winding is attached at either end to
a slip ring permitting current to flow through the field winding. The regulator monitors the
battery and stator voltage and changes the rotor field current to adjust generator output.
The conversion of AC to DC is done by the Diode Rectifier Bridge. An alternating magnetic
field is formed as the rotor assembly rotates within the stator winding. This spinning
induces an AC voltage into the stator. Depending on the speed of the rotor and the
magnetic field the voltage provided to the stator will vary.
Summary of Contents for TrailBlazer
Page 1: ......
Page 26: ...Fig 3 Typical body and undervehicle maintenance locations Refer to chart for descriptions ...
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Page 30: ......
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Page 175: ...Spring free length check Valve spring squareness check ...
Page 192: ...Front of piston mark ...
Page 361: ...5 3L Engine Except Saab Underhood Fuse Block 2003 2005 Early Production ...
Page 469: ...Removing the outer band from the CV boot Removing the inner band from the CV boot ...
Page 470: ...Removing the CV boot from the joint housing Clean the CV joint housing prior to removing boot ...
Page 471: ...Removing the CV joint housing assembly Removing the CV joint ...
Page 472: ...Inspecting the CV joint housing Removing the CV joint outer snap ring ...
Page 473: ...Checking the CV joint snap ring for wear CV joint snap ring typical ...
Page 474: ...Removing the CV joint assembly Removing the CV joint inner snap ring ...
Page 475: ...Installing the CV joint assembly typical ...
Page 553: ...9 Torque the lug nuts to specification 10 Lower the vehicle ...
Page 556: ...Toe in Frame Misalignment Frame misalignment ...
Page 588: ...Bleeding caliper ...
Page 624: ...Manifold gauge set components Refrigerant recovery recycling station ...
Page 676: ...A C Specifications ...
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