The Automotive Charging System is a grouping of parts that harness, apply and resupply the electricity needed to operate your entire vehicle. Short burst of current—needed for cranking the engine and initial spark—and long term current supply—needed to partition out electrical power to everything from the heater fan to the stereo—both originate from your vehicl... Read More

Charging Information

Why are Charging Part Important

The Automotive Charging System is a grouping of parts that harness, apply and resupply the electricity needed to operate your entire vehicle. Short burst of current—needed for cranking the engine and initial spark—and long term current supply—needed to partition out electrical power to everything from the heater fan to the stereo—both originate from your vehicle’s charging system.

While the battery supplies and stores all the electrical power, it is essentially a block of plastic and acid if it isn’t recharged by the alternator. The alternator relies on an external or internal regulator which ensures the battery charge is consistent. A maze of wires, known as an electrical harness, carry this regulated power to all the vehicle’s electrical components; the conduits that handle the most electricity or are closest to the power source are thick gauged cables.

The other components involved—relays, sensors, switches and other electronics—route, divide and pulse the electrical power in order to operate the more complicated components from intermittent windshield wipers to traction control systems.

When these components come together in sync—your car starts on the first crank and the battery maintains a steady charge that easily powers all your electrical systems. However in any system with multiple components, disruption has many entry points. Any one component can bring down the system quickly by loosing battery charge or slowly by introducing power robbing resistance to the flow of electrical current.

Brands

ACCEL	Auto7	Beck/Arnley	Bosch	Curt Manufacturing
Dorman	Draw-Tite	DynoMax	Gates	Hopkins
NOS	Omix-ADA	Smittybilt	Standard	Taylor
USA Industries	Warn