VAZ-2101, generator: wiring diagram, repair, replacement

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:43

In a VAZ 2101 car, the generator is one of the power sources. The second is the battery, but it is involved only in starting the engine, the rest of the time it is recharged from the generator. Thanks to this symbiosis, it is possible to supply consumers with power even when the engine is stopped. A comparison can be made with Minsk-type motorcycles produced in the Soviet era.

They did not have a battery, which made the vehicle a little cheaper, but the lighting devices worked only when the engine was running. But it's a motorcycle. On a car, such a scheme is inconvenient, since the engine must be started with a “crooked” starter or from a tug. And this causes quite severe difficulties.

The main components of the generator

Structurally, it consists of the following main elements:

1. Rotor - the moving part, rotates from the crankshaft of the engine. Has excitation winding.
2. Stator -the fixed part of the generator also has a winding.
3. Front and back covers, inside which bearings are installed. They have eyelets for attaching to the internal combustion engine. A capacitor is located in the back cover, which is necessary to cut off the variable component of the current.
4. Semiconductor bridge - called the "horseshoe" for its similarity. Three pairs of semiconductor power diodes are mounted on a horseshoe base.
5. Pulley, on which the VAZ-2101 generator belt is put on. V-belt (multi-ribbed belt is used on modern cars).
6. The voltage regulator in the VAZ-2101 car is installed in the engine compartment, away from the generator. But still, it should be considered part of the design.
7. The brushes are mounted inside the generator and transmit the supply voltage to the excitation winding (on the rotor).

Generator windings

There are two of them - rotary (excitation) and stator (power). The principle of operation of the installation is that the generation of current in the power winding is possible only if the following two conditions are met:

1. There is a permanent magnetic field.
2. This field rotates relative to the power winding.

Only if they are observed, the generator will work. By applying voltage to the rotor winding, we obtain a magnetic field. Since the rotor rotates from the crankshaft, the second condition is met. But you still need to pay attention to what is the connection diagram of the VAZ-2101 generator. It is connected to the battery in parallel forcharging.

The principle of the generator

At the initial moment (when starting the engine), the voltage in the on-board network is equal to that which is also in the battery (about 12 V). And at idle, it will be maintained at about this level. But with an increase in the rotor speed, a voltage jump will occur up to 30 V. Reason: more voltage is applied to the excitation winding due to an increase in the rotor speed (the speed of the magnetic field increases). And this is fraught with damage to the car's electrical wiring and failure of consumers.

Voltage regulator, brushes

It is necessary that the voltage at the output of the generator remains constant, and for this a simple principle is used. If you make sure that the supply voltage of the rotor winding is constant, then you can avoid changing the magnitude of the magnetic field. On the VAZ-2101, the generator must function under a load of 13-14 V. Even two relay-regulators of the same design can hold a different voltage value.

Regulator types:

1. Mechanical - based on an electromechanical relay and resistance to reduce voltage.
2. Semiconductor - based on a small circuit of low power transistors or one power switch.
3. Mixed - the design contains both a transistor circuit and an electromagnetic relay.

Brushes are exactly the element with which the VAZ-2101 generator connection scheme is implemented. Thanks to them servedvoltage on the slip rings of the moving rotor.

How to remove the alternator

To carry out dismantling, you will need the following tools:

1. Wrenches for 10, 13 and 17.
2. Mounting spatula.
3. Penetrating lubricant type WD-40.

Initially, disconnect the battery and disconnect the wires from the generator. It is advisable to carry out all work with a slightly raised front of the car or on a viewing hole, overpass. Before removing the alternator, loosen the drive belt. To do this, completely unscrew the nut with a 17 key from the upper stud securing the housing to the engine block. She shouldn't be a problem.

The generator housing must be moved to the block, after which you remove the belt. It will be problematic to loosen the lower mounting bolt. It is close to the ground, it often gets dust, dirt, water. Therefore, pre-treat the threaded connection with penetrating lubricant.

Generator installation

Mounting is done in reverse order. If it is necessary to replace the generator with a more powerful one, then you can install an analogue from the VAZ-2107 or 2109 car model. They have more power and are able to provide stable charging of the battery. The difference from the "native" VAZ-2101 is that the voltage regulator is combined with the brush assembly.

The main thing is that there are no distortions, otherwise the belt will break, wear out quickly, the load on the rotor will increase inrepeatedly. For normal operation, it is necessary that this element has a certain tension. It is regulated by changing the position of the body relative to the engine. Fixation is made with a nut at the top of the generator.

Fault diagnosis

The following mechanical and electrical failures can occur in a generator:

1. Bearing wear is diagnosed by a characteristic whistle or rattle from the side of the device. The grease inside the bearings evaporates over time, increasing friction.
2. The brushes of the VAZ-2101 generator must be replaced in a timely manner to ensure the normal operation of the car. If they wear out, the indicator lamp on the instrument panel with the image of the battery lights up.
3. Insufficient or excessive battery charge is a clear sign of a failed voltage regulator. The check can be done with a conventional multimeter. Start the engine, turn on the headlights. Idling should be around 800 rpm. It is necessary that the voltage at the battery terminals be ~13.2 V.
4. Blinking light, ripple - a sign of failure of one or two semiconductor diodes in the rectifier assembly. On the VAZ-2101, the generator is built according to the classical scheme - it produces three phases, then it is converted to direct current using a rectifier.
5. In the event that the generator does not charge, and the rectifier and voltage regulator are working, we can talk about the destruction of one of the windings. In this caseeither the generator is replaced, or a new rotor or stator is installed (depending on which of the windings is destroyed). Diagnosis is made using a tester.

Conclusions

Despite its apparent simplicity, in a VAZ-2101 car, the generator can cause a lot of trouble to the owner. And if during the trip you notice that the lamp on the dashboard lights up, then you need to take action as soon as possible to eliminate the breakdowns. It also happens that the wire simply oxidizes, the contact disappears, but this must be identified at an early stage, otherwise it will not be possible to go far with a dead battery.