[Forklift]

well as a set of magnets rotate inside a bunch of copper wires it generates ac current. Things called Rectifiers take that alternating current and turn it into the direct ,or DC currrent , that your truck runs and recharges on. You have at least one "turn-on" wire that comes off the dash light for charging. It has a 12 ignition feed on it and if the alt goes out then it'll get a ground so then the dash light will come on

 

[Forklift]

thansk , I try. My knowledge is limited I hear as I only work at Best Buy

 

[Forklift]

usually the units that put out more power have better tighter windings, some have 5 rectifiers instead of 3, more magnets and the larger cases to hold it all
also as a side effect of having an alt. , we can get noise in our stereo systems due to the fact that it produces A/C current. When you get that whining noise that gets louder with rpms its from the a/c ripple the alt produces thats still present after the rectifiers send + in one direction and - in the other

 

[Forklift]

note to self, write essay about alternator and use this thread

Id need credit for that

 

[Forklift]

actually the diodes done switch back and forth and nothing in them even moves. A diode has a cathode side and an anode side. They let + flow one way but not the other and - flow one way and not the other. If you ever look at a diode itll have a grey stripe on one side and be all black on the other. If you send a - into the side with the stripe itll send it out the other end but not a +. If you send a + into the black side itll send it out the other but not a -