Alternator test apparatus and method

摘要

An automobile alternator test apparatus tests for the presence of a failed diode by detecting a frequency component (a subharmonic component) in the alternator output ripple voltage produced by the failed diode. The subharmonic frequency component is detected by a tracking filter that is slaved to the subharmonic frequency of the ripple frequency voltage produced by the failed diode. The output signal of the slaved filter indicates the presence of the failed diode.