Remanufactured Alternators and Starters

People need to have something in the morning to get them going. This is something that provides energy for them to start a day and stay going such as breakfast. The same is true of the vehicles that people drive to work and to start a day with. What a vehicle needs in this case is the alternator and starter. Apeks remanufactured alternators and starters not only provides your vehicles with a source of energy but also with the reliability that your vehicle needs to get going and stay going, whenever you start and wherever you go....

 Alternators and Starters, Your Best and Smart Choice!

When you need an alternator or a starter, you want to have a product that you can rely on. It will not only get you started again and stay going, but also will give you the power that no other brands can give that will keep you going, whenever and wherever.

With Apeks alternator and starter (see our Product Pictures and Catalog), you do not need to be trapped in the middle of nowhere, or call any road service. Your concerns are our concerns and it is the peace of mind that Apeks has striven to build into its products.

Apeks remanufactured alternators and starters pass a series of stringent computer simulated tests that meet or exceed factory specifications (for details about Apeks products, please see our Company about us and Product Features).

Apeks provides a full line of remanufactured alternators and starters, with a coverage of almost any vehicles on the road today, domestic or import.

Apeks remanufactured alternators and starters carry a limited, 24 month/unlimited-mileage warranty from the date of your purchase. For more information on Apeks warranties, please see Service or email us at support@apeks.com or write to us at: Contact.

For more information on Apeks sales, please go to Sales.

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What Do Starters and Alternators Do?

Alternators

The alternator, or generator, is the vehicle’ s electrical system's chief source of power while the engine is running. It charges the vehicle’s battery and provides the electrical power to operate the vehicle’s electrical accessories such as the stereo, power seats, heater, etc.. When the engine is in motion, the alternator recharges the energy drained from your battery during starting. Its shaft is driven by the same belt that spins the fan. It converts mechanical energy into AC (alternating-current) electricity, which is then channeled through diodes in the rectifier that alter it to DC (direct current) for the electrical system and for recharging the battery. It must maintain sufficient electrical power to operate the vehicle’s electrical accessories while producing a constant voltage level regardless of engine speed and electrical load.   For details on how the voltage level in charging system is regulated, click here ...

To see how an alternator works, click here for Alternator Operation Overview

An alternator

Starters

The starter helps to start the vehicle. It converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. This happens in two stages. Turning on the ignition switch releases a small amount of electrical energy from the battery to the solenoid of the starter, which in turn generates a magnetic field that pulls the solenoid plunger forward, moving the starter drive so that its pinion gear meshes with the engine's crankshaft flywheel. When the plunger is pulled forward, it strikes a contact that permits a greater amount of current to flow from the battery to the starter motor. The motor then spins the drive and turns the meshed gears to provide power to the crankshaft, which prepares each cylinder for ignition. After the engine starts, the ignition key is released to break the starting circuit. The solenoid's magnetic field collapses and the return spring pulls the plunger back, automatically shutting off the starter motor and disengaging the starter drive. The starter then converts this energy into torque and turns the crankshaft.

An electric starter

A Brief Historical Review of Starters

Early vehicles relied on manually turning a hand crank located at the front of the vehicle to get started. Aside from the inconveniences, there were injuries caused by this activity.

In 1911, the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, led by Charles Kettering, experimented on and devloped a starter system - self-starters. The first such starter system was installed on 1911 Cadillac, leading to the birth of the first generation of self-starters.

Future Alternators: More Work to Do

With the increasing demands on vehicles electronic devices for more convenience and safety, vehicle manufacturers install more and more electronic components to vehicles each year. These devices include daytime running lights, power seats, heated seats, electrical mirrors, power windows, CD players and so forth. This means that an alternator needs to give power to more and more devices. It is especially hard when the vehicle is idling with the alternator running more slow than any other time.

To address this potential problem, there are a number of ways. One way is for the OEM manufacturers to increase the electrical voltage over 12 volts on the vehicle, which is what most of vehicles operate on today.

Instead of making more sophisticated and costly electrical devices, most manufacturers are turning to more powerful and sophisticated alternators and batteries.

The latest generation of alternators can charge up to 145 amperes and can deal with the increased electrical demands. Besides, these alternators are equipped with a new type of regulator that is capable of increasing their current output based on vehicle need, rather than solely on engine and alternator speed.

These alternators can produce a high level of electrical current to accessories even when the vehicle is at idle, which previous alternators cannot handle.

Future alternators need to produce even greater output. This requires more sophiscated electronics inside the alternators and improved alternator cooling capabilities (such as rectifier heat dissipation) to operate under higher temperature.

Vehicle Electrical System Overview

For more information on vehicle electrical systems, please go to Vehicle Electrical System Overview.