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2001 Ford Escort Repair Question


Topics covered: Battery, Alternator, Voltage regulator.
Mileage: 132,000 miles.

Asked on August 2, 2012

Battery

Is it true that when a car is running, the battery supplies the power to the car and the alternator recharges the battery as it drains?
Avatar Asked by KGetz

Answer

Replied on August 2, 2012

Not really that way. The alternator supplies whatever current is required and the battery acts as a backup. It also helps to stabilise the voltage though the voltage regulator is the main controller.

Tiny Answered by KHLow2008 (expert)
39,900 answers provided
Replied on August 2, 2012

The alternator feeds directly to the battery and reads battery demand to determine charging rate.

Tiny Answered by Wrenchtech (expert)
14,742 answers provided