摘要 |
A method for detecting full or partial inoperability of a vehicular alternator battery charging system monitors the vehicle's battery voltage and compares it against a controlled reference voltage. When the monitored voltage differs from the target by an amount which is a function of engine rotational speed for a minimum preselected time period, the alternator is disabled and the voltage drop at the battery is monitored to determined whether the alternator is malfunctioning. By observing the voltage drop when the alternator is disabled, the method can distinguish between a charging system problem and a normal state wherein the load exceeds the alternator's maximum output current capacity.
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