Fleet Maintenance - 30
SPOTLIGHT ON BODY & CAB
157024815 | Evgeny Dzyuba | Dreamstime
Amping up
the voltage
A look at how
higher voltage
electrical systems
will impact the
design and service
of starters and
alternators.
By Emily Markham
30 Fleet Maintenance | April 2020
O
ver the years, the role of the starter and alternator
in heavy duty vehicles hasn't changed. The starter
converts the energy from the alternator to start,
or crank over, the engine, while the alternator
plays two roles. The first is to provide power to
the vehicle's electrical functions such as the stereo
or lights. Secondly, the alternator keeps the battery
charged. Though the basic function of the starter
and alternator has remained the same, improvements have been made to these components.
Improvements such as higher output and
remote sensing for the alternator, and an attached
relay for the starter, as well as better life expectancy and a smaller and lighter design for both
systems - while maintaining or reducing costs of
the equipment - have been added, notes Orlando
Braga, supervisor, electrical components engineering, Denso Products & Services Americas, Inc.
Denso produces thermal, powertrain, mobility,
»Future designs of alternators may
incorporate an additional cooling loop to
address the needs of 48V electrical systems.
Photo courtesy of Prestolite
electrification, and electronic systems for vehicles.
The industry is constantly looking for ways
to upgrade equipment and systems for better
performance, reliability, and power. While
improvements made to starters and alternators
have done just that, the industry is continually
looking for further improvements and a way to
meet the increasing demand being put on vehicles' electrical systems. Specifically, the next step
may be an increased vehicle system to 48V, and
possibly higher.
48V systems, coming soon?
At this point in time, the United States transportation industry uses mainly 12V electrical systems
in their vehicles, with some vehicles using a 24V
system. Increasing the electrical systems from 12V
and/or 24V to 48V is not as simple as, say, turning the knob to increase the volume on a radio.
Changes to system voltage will have an impact
Fleet Maintenance
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fleet Maintenance
Uptime: The responsibilities of being an essential business
How fleets can benefit from today's 6x2 axle configurations
With greater voltage comes greater responsibility
How to manage unanticipated roadside events
Amping up the voltage
Getting the most out of fuel injection systems
Management: Do you sabotage success?
Economic Outlook: Dealing with a natural disaster
Fleet Parts & Components
Tools & Equipment
Classifieds
Guest Editorial: NASTF steps into the world of heavy duty
Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Diagnostic Tools
Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Power Tools
Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Specialty & Hand Tools
Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Shop Equipment
Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Tool Storage
Fleet Maintenance - 1
Fleet Maintenance - 2
Fleet Maintenance - 3
Fleet Maintenance - 4
Fleet Maintenance - 5
Fleet Maintenance - 6
Fleet Maintenance - 7
Fleet Maintenance - Uptime: The responsibilities of being an essential business
Fleet Maintenance - 9
Fleet Maintenance - How fleets can benefit from today's 6x2 axle configurations
Fleet Maintenance - 11
Fleet Maintenance - 12
Fleet Maintenance - 13
Fleet Maintenance - 14
Fleet Maintenance - 15
Fleet Maintenance - With greater voltage comes greater responsibility
Fleet Maintenance - 17
Fleet Maintenance - 18
Fleet Maintenance - 19
Fleet Maintenance - 20
Fleet Maintenance - 21
Fleet Maintenance - How to manage unanticipated roadside events
Fleet Maintenance - 23
Fleet Maintenance - 24
Fleet Maintenance - 25
Fleet Maintenance - 26
Fleet Maintenance - 27
Fleet Maintenance - 28
Fleet Maintenance - 29
Fleet Maintenance - Amping up the voltage
Fleet Maintenance - 31
Fleet Maintenance - Getting the most out of fuel injection systems
Fleet Maintenance - 33
Fleet Maintenance - 34
Fleet Maintenance - 35
Fleet Maintenance - Management: Do you sabotage success?
Fleet Maintenance - Economic Outlook: Dealing with a natural disaster
Fleet Maintenance - Fleet Parts & Components
Fleet Maintenance - 39
Fleet Maintenance - 40
Fleet Maintenance - 41
Fleet Maintenance - 42
Fleet Maintenance - Tools & Equipment
Fleet Maintenance - 44
Fleet Maintenance - 45
Fleet Maintenance - 46
Fleet Maintenance - 47
Fleet Maintenance - 48
Fleet Maintenance - Classifieds
Fleet Maintenance - Guest Editorial: NASTF steps into the world of heavy duty
Fleet Maintenance - 51
Fleet Maintenance - 52
Fleet Maintenance - S1
Fleet Maintenance - S2
Fleet Maintenance - S3
Fleet Maintenance - S4
Fleet Maintenance - S5
Fleet Maintenance - Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Diagnostic Tools
Fleet Maintenance - S7
Fleet Maintenance - S8
Fleet Maintenance - S9
Fleet Maintenance - S10
Fleet Maintenance - S11
Fleet Maintenance - S12
Fleet Maintenance - S13
Fleet Maintenance - S14
Fleet Maintenance - S15
Fleet Maintenance - S16
Fleet Maintenance - S17
Fleet Maintenance - Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Power Tools
Fleet Maintenance - S19
Fleet Maintenance - S20
Fleet Maintenance - S21
Fleet Maintenance - Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Specialty & Hand Tools
Fleet Maintenance - S23
Fleet Maintenance - S24
Fleet Maintenance - S25
Fleet Maintenance - Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Shop Equipment
Fleet Maintenance - S27
Fleet Maintenance - S28
Fleet Maintenance - S29
Fleet Maintenance - Tools & Shop Equipment Supplement: Tool Storage
Fleet Maintenance - S31
Fleet Maintenance - S32
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