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Regarding automobiles, alternators are belt-driven and keep a vehicle’s battery in its fully charged state by converting mechanical energy to alternating current via a magnetic rotor and stator. This alternating (AC) current is then converted to direct (DC) current via diodes (known as rectifiers). The precursor to the alternator was the generator, which was used until the 1960s. Generators were larger in size and weren’t as efficient as the alternator, which led to the transition to alternators, which are compact and generally more reliable.

"Hey, check out the sound system I just installed! My headlights get dim every time the bass hits, so I think I need to get a high-amp alternator so I can turn the volume up to 11."