System and method for managing the electrical system of a vehicle

A vehicle comprising:

• an engine for producing mechanical energy to propel said vehicle;
• engine cranking means operatively connected to said engine for cranking said engine;
• a battery mounted on said vehicle to supply electrical energy to said engine cranking means;
• an alternator operatively connected to said battery to supply electrical energy to said battery in the form of a waveform;
• waveform analysis means for comparing the actual waveform supplied by said alternator to a predetermined waveform indicative of a properly functioning alternator and for providing an indication if the actual waveform varies from the predetermined waveform by more than a predetermined amount, wherein said waveform analysis means comprises means for determining an RMS value of the actual waveform supplied by said alternator and for comparing the RMS value of the actual waveform with an RMS value for the predetermined waveform indicative of a properly functioning alternator.

A method of optimizing the charge of a vehicle battery by an alternator comprising the steps of:

• providing a predetermined battery temperature/battery voltage schedule;
• sensing the temperature of said battery;
• providing electrical energy from the alternator to the battery to thereby charge the battery;
• and
• controlling the electrical energy provided by said alternator to said battery in response to the predetermined battery temperature/battery voltage schedule such that said battery is appropriately charged based upon the sensed temperature of said battery.

A method of detecting a faulty alternator in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• supplying electrical energy from said alternator to a battery in said vehicle in the form of a waveform;
• comparing the actual waveform supplied by said alternator to a predetermined waveform indicative of a properly functioning alternator;
• providing an indication if the actual waveform varies from the predetermined waveform by more than a predetermined amount;
• and
• determining an RMS value of the actual waveform supplied by said alternator, and wherein said comparing step comprises comparing the RMS value of the actual waveform with an RMS value for the predetermined waveform indicative of a properly functioning alternator.