Alternator Troubleshooting Tips
Truth is an experienced mechanic can perform 95% of the steps to troubleshoot your aircraft’s alternator using a hacksaw blade and a Volt/Ohm Meter (VOM) – often referred to as a Digital Volt Meter or Multimeter.
Energizing the aircraft’s alternator circuit while the unit is NOT running creates an electromagnet, so when you hold the hacksaw blade against the housing you will get a magnetic “tug” which indicates the alternator is creating a field. If there is a tug when the alternator rotates electrical output has to occur.
Even if there is a tug you still need to verify that the aircraft’s alternator can carry a load. To do this, run the engine with the typical load. Connect a VOM to the B+ terminal and measure the voltage with respect to the ground. For 12v or 24v systems, if this is less than 13.5 or 25.5 volts respectively, when above 1,500 RPM, the alternator output is low. If that does check out okay, switch the VOM to AC volts and verify a maximum of one (1) volt AC into the bus. Failure of either of these tests would be cause to remove the alternator.
But, if there is no tug, or if it is very weak:
- Verify field (F1) input voltage, which should be the approximate bus voltage. If not, check the regulator and associated connections, conductors, breakers and switches. Verify the initial field resistance. With the F1 and F2 (if provided) field terminals isolated, measure for a resistance of approximately four- to eight-ohms depending on whether it’s a 12- or 24-volt system (respectively). If it’s not, remove the belt or alternator, if gear-driven, and slowly rotate the output shaft by hand. If the resistance is high, not steady or infinite (using an analog VOM), you may have bad brushes, slip ring contamination or an open rotor. If the resistance is “0”: the field circuit is shorted, which makes the rotor suspect. Perform a test called “full fielding” the alternator. With the alternator field isolated from the regulator, connect a jumper from the B+ alternator output to the field terminal. This will provide full bus voltage directly to the field. Make sure no electrical equipment is “on.” Connect a VOM to the bus and run the engine. Since the only variable now is alternator RPM, the alternator DC voltage should smoothly follow the throttle as engine RPM is increased and decreased.
- Common voltage regulator problems.
- After testing the alternator, if the problem with the charging system still hasn’t been found, look at the voltage regulator next. Most aircraft voltage regulators used today are solid-state and no longer have the trouble-prone contact points and coils. As such, regulator problems other than basic adjustments are minimal. Typically, today’s regulators either work or they don’t.
Unfortunately, as regulators have become more sophisticated and sensitive there are also more prone to providing false indications. These solid-state regulators along with glass cockpit warning systems are providing faster, but not necessarily better information to the aircraft’s pilot and mechanic. Voltage regulator troubleshooting tips.
Verify both the input and output voltage of the regulator. The input voltage should be approximately the same as the bus voltage. A drop of more than 0.5 volt would indicate an issue upstream of the regulator. If the drop between the input and the output of the regulator is beyond 1.5 volts, it’s a safe assumption that the regulator has a ground issue or internal fault.
Remember, the solid-state design? Even a momentary, inadvertent short-to-ground can destroy the regulator.
Of course, these are just some very basic troubleshooting tips to aid aircraft maintenance technicians in eliminating the cost and aircraft downtime associated with the dreaded NFF alternator. For a complete troubleshooting flow-chart, click on the link below.