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Aftermarket experts are beginning to find that short-lived batteries in fleets may be due to the wrong choice in the vehicle alternator.
Over the years, the alternator’s job has become more complex. Before, the typical heavy-duty vehicle could operate effectively with 40 amps of electrical current, which was enough to power the ignition, fuel and light systems. Fast forward to today and that threshold is rapidly advancing toward 100 amps of current – making the drain on the alternator greater than ever.
In addition to powering things like heated seats, sound systems, electronic power steering, air injection pumps, and steering and braking controls, the alternator (also referred to as the “generator”) helps power high-end aftermarket accessories and add-ons such as subwoofers and video displays.
In a heavy-duty vehicle, the alternator and battery work together as a team to keep everything running properly during operation. The battery is the chemical storage provider and initiates the charging cycle by using chemical energy to crank the engine and supply field voltage to the alternator. The alternator, which is the electro-mechanical player of the team, takes over by using engine torque to generate enough electrical current to help keep the engine and vehicle accessories running properly. Simultaneously, the alternator is also working to replenish the current drawn from the battery for starting.
Collectively, the battery and alternator maintain the system voltage at levels that allow the vehicle’s electronics systems to efficiently manage vehicle operations. If the alternator has low output and unable to keep the battery fully charged during periods of high accessory use at low engine speeds, the battery will become partially discharged. This could lead to diminished battery health and performance.
Testing the condition of the battery is the most important step in diagnosing any alternator problem and finding the right balance between the two components for optimal vehicle operation.
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EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, designs, manufactures and distributes energy systems solutions and motive power batteries, specialty batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. The company goes to market through four lines of business: Energy Systems, Motive Power, Specialty and New Ventures. Energy Systems, which combine power conversion, power distribution, energy storage, and enclosures, are used in the telecommunication, broadband and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies, and numerous applications requiring stored energy solutions. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles. Specialty batteries are used in aerospace and defense applications, portable power solutions for soldiers in the field, large over-the-road trucks, premium automotive, medical and security systems applications. New Ventures provides energy storage and management systems for various applications including demand charge reduction, utility back-up power, and dynamic fast charging for electric vehicles. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com.
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