THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

As we mentioned a while back about the air conditioning system going hand in hand with the cooling system to perform efficiently… I forgot to mention about the electrical system being an important part of the a/c system. The magnetic clutch, which is used to engage and disengage the compressor from the drive pulley and the blower motor which circulates air through the evaporator, place a big load on the electrical system. The system also includes the ignition system, lighting system (brake lights, park lights, dashboard lights, headlights), gauges, starting system, accessories and the charging system.

The battery actually supplies the electricity needed to supply the electrical requirements of a vehicle. The alternator is there just to recharge the battery. This happens when the built-in regulator senses that the battery is falling short of its requirements. The alternator pumps out about 12.7 volts to 13.5 volts to charge the battery. If the alternator is not putting out the required voltage, your indicator lamp (idiot light) will start to blink. But that sometimes is not the case. That’s why there are some car owners who have volt meters installed to keep tabs. On some newer cars, the ECU will give out a fault code if the alternator is going below the required output.