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1; The alternator attached to the engine provides power to the EFI system while the engine is running. I understand.
2; The starter motor during cranking recharges the battery while the engine is not running. I can understand this too.
3; The alternator recharges the battery while the engine is not running. I don't really understand. I thought when the engine is not running, the alternator too is "dead" kind of.
Hey Edem,
I think there may have just been a small misunderstanding, so I'll try and clear things up.
- You're 100% correct here. With the engine running, the alternator is generating power to supply the vehicle's electrical system. It's also supplying power back to the battery to recharge it after starting.
- The starter motor doesn't play any role in charging the battery. Its only job is to turn the engine over during cranking. In fact, the starter is one of the largest consumers of battery power in the vehicle. While the engine is cranking, it's not turning the engine over fast enough for the alternator to provide any reasonable power.
- You're also correct here. The alternator only produces power when it is being driven by the engine. If the engine isn't running, the alternator isn't spinning and therefore isn't generating any electrical power.
