Electrics & Electronics: Charging, Starting & Lighting: Alternator construction

Rotor	The rotor is an electro magnet. It consists of a coil of wire wound around an iron core and is pressed on to a steel shaft. It usually has 8 to 12 tapered pole projections.
Stator	The stator consists of a cylindrical laminated iron core, which carries the three-phase winding in slots on the outside.
Alternator end frames	The end frames of an alternator are made from aluminum.
Slip ring & brush assembly	Slip rings are normally copper bands connected to the rotor winding. Brushes allow an electrical connection to the rotating rotor winding.
Rectifier assembly	Rectifier diodes are mounted on heat sinks. The positive heat sink is insulated from the frame, the negative heat sink is connected to the frame.
Alternator cooling fan	The fan is a centrifugal type that is mounted on the rotor shaft or drive pulley.

Topic	Summary