Alternator Charge?

[smicky]

Azz - this what your talking about?

(dont know if it was in used the Aussie B series onwards or not)... :nuke:

  Quote

The charging system employed on the Ford Focus is unlike any other charging system that is currently in production.

Ford utilise what is termed a 'smart charge' system. With a conventional charging system the battery is charged at a voltage that is determined by the voltage regulator, with all the electrical load being drawn from the alternator fed battery.

Smart charging enables the voltage supply from the alternator to vary depending on the temperature of the battery's electrolyte. It has been proven that a cold battery will respond better to a higher voltage than a hot battery, which responds better to a slightly lower voltage. The temperature of the electrolyte is calculated by monitoring the air intake temperature when the engine was last stopped and the current intake air temperature. From these two datum points, the battery's temperature can now be calculated and the appropriate charge sent to the battery.

The alternator will have two connections to the Engine Management Module (ECM), these are to monitor and control the output. This monitoring also allows the Idle Speed Control Valve (ISCV) to be operated when high electrical demands are seen when the engine is at idle. The ECM will also controls the engine run relay, which only allow circuits with a high current demand to be activated when the alternator is charging, until which point the components remain inactive.

The ECM is now responsible for switching off the dashboard mounted 'charging light'. When starting the engine with a conventional alternator, the unit is activated as soon as the ignition is switched on, a 'smart charging' system will only initiate the alternator once the engine has started. This action avoids an unnecessary waste of voltage on a vehicle with a discharged battery and also avoids the extra effort involved in cranking an engine with an operational alternator.

Edited 02/02/09 03:23 AM by smicky

[Azzman460]

yeah I beleive that is the one! I'm not entirely sure though but I think that's it. If not that one then its a similar system, maybe not adjusted against electrolyte temp though.

This system is used from BF onwards.

[Mike XR6T]

regardless of the type of charging system, the readins should always remain the same! that's how 12v batts get charged.

the focus system is ratsh*t and should never been employed, we have sh*t loads of trouble with it and it is hard to diagnose as the signal from the ecu to the alt is pulse with modulated and is has to be measured on an osiloscope but even then u dont know what the signal means :(

the focus alts r sh*t house, ford is doing heaps of warrentys on them. BF's dont run this system, fg's may I dunno yet.

[PHANTMXR6]

No fancy charging system on my FG. All normal battery and alternator.

[smicky]

Didnt think they were any different to conventional alt's in the Aussie Falcons... Would have expected to hear something about it... But again I havent pulled one out...

Dam - hold on we got a Focus too...

[Azzman460]

I can guarantee that from BF's onwards they use the smart charge system.

like I said I'm not sure if its the same or even similar to the focus ones, but they do run a smart chatge system.

The Altenators aren't different, neither is the battery or any other associated components, its just that the voltage charge is controlled by the PCM rather than a voltage regulator (I think)

so just because the focus altenators keep sh*tting themselves, doesn't mean the smart charge system is crap, and just because its hard to diagnose, doesn't mean its crap either

Anywho like I said I'm not sure how it works, but it may cause different readings.