General description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The starting and charging circuit comprises the battery, starter motor and the alternator.

The battery (12V) is sealed and maintenance-free.

The starter motor comprises a direct current motor supplied by the battery and a control and engagement solenoid.

By turning the ignition key, the voltage leading from the battery supplies the windings of the motor, generating the electromagnetic forces which turn the pinion of the motor itself: simultaneously, the solenoid is energized which operates the mechanism engaging the pinion in the flywheel ring gear, thereby setting the crankshaft into rotation.

The alternator recharges the battery during the normal rotation of the engine: the alternator shaft (rotor) turned directly by the crankshaft through a belt is supplied with the excitation current and generates a magnetic field which induces an alternate current on

the fixed winding (stator); this is transformed into direct current by a rectifier bridge with diodes and sent to recharge the battery.

A voltage regulator built into the alternator makes it possible to maintain a constant voltage supply (appr. 12 V) for all the fields of load changes and engine speed.

In the versions without ALFA ROMEO CODE but with anti- theft system , the supply to the starter motor receives the necessary consent from the anti-theft control unit, which then operates the starting consent relay, thus also the motor itself. In the event of an "alarm" the motor is not supplied and the engine cannot be started using the key.

In the versions with ALFA ROMEO CODE the starter motor is NOT inhibited, but only the engine (see the "ALFA ROMEO CODE" section).