What is a carbon pile voltage regulator?
What is a carbon pile voltage regulator?
Abstract: THE CARBON pile voltage regulator used on aircraft is an electromechanical device designed to maintain constant generator voltage under the varying loads and speeds encountered.
How is voltage adjusted on a carbon pile voltage regulator?
Voltage regulators are of several types and are used depending on the generator requirement. The level of excitation current and the resulting field pole strength produced is adjusted automatically using an AVR (automatic voltage regulator) attached to the system.
Can a bad voltage regulator ruin a battery?
A damaged or failed voltage regulator can rapidly diminish the alternator’s ability to cycle power from the battery. Dead Battery. A burned-out voltage regulator will diminish the vehicle battery’s ability to charge or stop it altogether.
What takes place in the carbon pile stack of the carbon pile regulator during voltage regulation?
The carbon pile regulator controls DC generator output by sending the field current through a stack of carbon disks (the carbon pile). The carbon disks are in series with the generator field. The voltage coil acts like an electromagnet that increases or decrease strength as generator output voltage changes.
What are the three units of a three unit voltage regulator?
three basic units—a cutout relay, a current reg- ulator and a voltage regulator. The cutout relay and current regulator are of the conventional type and are checked and adjusted similarly to the other three-unit generator regulators.
What is a carbon pile resistor?
A carbon pile resistor is made of a stack of carbon disks compressed between two metal contact plates. Adjusting the clamping pressure changes the resistance between the plates. These resistors are used when an adjustable load is required, for example in testing automotive batteries or radio transmitters.
How do I know if my alternator voltage regulator is bad?
Symptoms of a bad voltage regulator may include:
- High voltage output.
- Low voltage output, sometimes.
- No voltage output.
- Lights dim or flicker.
- Faulty high-beam headlamp bulbs.
- Engine working erratically (weak or flickering ignition system)
- Adding water to the battery frequently.
What is transistorized voltage regulator?
The transistorized electromechanical voltage regulator is simply a conventional automotive regulator wired to a transistor circuit which takes the place of the generator field function. See Fig. 2. It is used with an ordinary unregulated power supply or a battery charger and a 12-volt storage battery.
How does a voltage regulator work?
A voltage regulator generates a fixed output voltage of a preset magnitude that remains constant regardless of changes to its input voltage or load conditions. It compares the output voltage with a precise reference voltage and adjusts the pass device to maintain a constant output voltage.
How does a carbon pile battery tester work?
Carbon pile battery testers are the simplest type, are intuitive, easy-to-use, and can be very effective. The carbon pile is a large (low-value) electrical resistor, and the ‘tester’ works by measuring how much current the battery is able to discharge through the large resistor.
How does the carbon pile voltage regulator work?
The carbon pile voltage regulator depends on the resistance of a number of carbon disks arranged in a pile or stack. The resistance of the carbon stack varies inversely with the pressure applied. When the stack is compressed under appreciable pressure, the resistance in the stack is less.
Can a vibrating regulator be used on a generator?
Vibrating-type regulators cannot be used with generators which require a high field current, since the contacts will pit or burn. Heavy duty generator systems require a different type of regulator, such as the carbon pile voltage regulator.
What is the overvoltage protection circuit used for?
The overvoltage protection system compares the sampled voltage to a reference voltage. The overvoltage protection circuit is used to open the relay that controls the field excitation current. It is typically found on more complex generator control systems.
What causes a short circuit in a voltage regulator?
The action of vibrating contact C1 in the voltage regulator unit causes an intermittent short circuit between points R1 and L2. When the generator is not operating, spring S1 holds C1 closed; C2 is also closed by S2. The shunt field is connected directly across the armature.
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