Power
Depending on the year of production, motorization and equipment, generators with a capacity of 70, 90, 100 and 120 A were installed in the Audi-100.
To calculate the power of the generator, you need to multiply the indicated maximum current by the nominal voltage of 14 V. It turns out, for example, 90 A x 14 V = 1260 W.
You have already noticed that the alternator in the 12-volt on-board network actually gives 14 volts. Because the battery can only receive current for charging due to this small difference in voltage.
The transmission from the crankshaft pulley to the generator pulley was chosen, by the way, in such a way that approximately ⅔ of the generator power was already produced at idle.
Generator Maintenance and Safety
A three-phase alternator, along with a sufficiently high power, has a great advantage: it generates current even at idle engine speed. In addition, its sliding graphite contacts (brushes) withstand more than 80,000 km. According to its name, it produces alternating current, which is not used in a car, since the battery can only be charged with direct current. Therefore, 3 rectifier diodes are built into the generator, converting alternating current into pulsating direct current. Since these diodes are sensitive to high voltage, you should be aware of the following:
When the generator is running, do not loosen or connect the wires between the battery and the generator. This can cause a power surge (voltage peaks), which will damage the diode.
A three-phase alternator should not operate without a properly connected, healthy battery, because the battery acts as a kind of surge buffer.
All cable connections between the three-phase alternator, battery and body metal or power package («weight», body) should sit tight. Even loose contact can lead to dangerous voltage peaks.
When fast charging the battery (do not use when charging with chargers with automatic shutdown) and during electrical welding work on the body, both wires must be disconnected from the battery so that the alternator diodes are not damaged.
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