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We get asked this question all the time, so I thought I would post it here for general info. Here is the question we got from someone: Dear mechmanalternators, Can you please explain to me what six phase means & whats the job of the rectifiers? Im a lil new to this & trying to get as much info as I can...I would like to go with yall as my company ive seen alot of great things from yall & well respected people have chosen yall over the rest like steve meade so that says alot about your company & products in my book. Our response: A standard alternator is generally 3 phase. This means that there are three “legs” of the stator that fire in succession as the alternator spins, A-B-C-A-B-C-A-B-C producing alternating current. 6 phase alternators have two 3 phase stators inside the alternator that are slightly out of phase of one another. The two stators fire in succession like this: A-a-B-b-C-c (the second stator is in lower case) Because they are slightly out of phase with one another, there is a cancellation of electromagnetic harmonics that makes the alternator run more smoothly and more efficiently. This allows for cooler operation, more output from a smaller overall housing, and MUCH better durability. The rectifiers turns the AC current coming out of the stator into DC current. DC current is what is used in an automobile. By passing trough the diodes, half of the AC current is burned off in the form of heat as it is “rectified” into DC current. That heat is what eventually kills alternators. By having (2) rectifier plates, there is much more surface area to dissipate the heat. This is especially important in a high output alternator- as the more amperage the alternator makes, the more heat is generated. Also, by having (12) or (16) diodes (depending on which 6 phase alternator you are talking about) instead of just (6) or ( diodes in a 3 phase alternator, the heat and electrical load can be distributed more evenly throughout the rear of the alternator housing. Hope that info is useful. Matthew Young (865)522-6166 ext 204 [email protected]
