Alternator Rectfier

A RECTIFIER BRIDGE CAN CONTAIN 3, 6, OR SOMETIMES 8 DIODES DEPENDING ON ITS DESIGN. DIODES ARE LIKE ONE WAY CHECK VALVES THAT ALLOW CURRENT TO FLOW IN ONLY ONE DIRECTION. A POSITIVE BIASED DIODE ALLOWS ONLY POSITIVE VOLTAGE TO PASS THROUGH AND A NEGATIVE BIAS DIODE ALLOWS ONLY NEGATIVE. THE BRIDGE'S JOB IS TO CONVERT AC VOLTAGE TO DC VOLTAGE. THIS PROCESS IS KNOWN AS RECTIFICATION. IT ALLOWS THE POSITIVE VOLTAGE TO PASS ONTO THE BAT+ TERMINAL AND ONTO THE BATTERY, WHILE ALLOWING NEGATIVE VOLTAGE TO PASS TO THE GROUND. MOST ALTERNATORS HAVE 3 OR 6 DIODES. IF ONE OF THESE FAIL, IT WILL REDUCE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT BY APPROXIMATELY 1/3.
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RECTIFIER ASSEMBLY. THE RECTIFIER ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF SIX DIODES MOUNTED
EITHER IN THE REAR HOUSING OR IN A SEPARATE SMALL HOUSING CALLED A RECTIFIER
BRIDGE. THREE OF THE DIODES ARE CONNECTED TO GROUND, AND THREE ARE MOUNTED
IN AN INSULATOR. SINCE THE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY CARRIES OFF HEAT CAUSED BY THE
OPERATION OF THE DIODE, IT IS OFTEN CALLED A HEAT SINK.