Abstract: The description concerns a voltage regulator (12) for regulating the output voltage (UB+) of an alternator (10) which is driven by an internal combustion engine. The voltage regulator (12) has an additional circuit (24) which evaluates the exciter current duty cycle (T) and supplies a signal (S1) at its output which is high when the exciter current duty cycle is high and low when the exciter current duty cycle is low. The circuit (24) is integrated in the voltage regulator (12) and the output signal (S1) supplied by it is transmitted via an additional regulator terminal (DA) and can be fed to the control device (25) of the internal combustion engine, where it is used, for instance, to increase the idling speed of the engine and accordingly also to increase the alternator speed and thus the power delivered by the alternator (10). It is also possible to switch off unnecessary consumers with this signal.

Abstract: A generator having an exciting winding and a standard load associated with a standard exciting current in the exciting winding can be controlled by a voltage regulator which adjusts an exciting current in the exciting winding and a temperature measurement device in a predetermined location in the generator and/or a voltage regulator associated with the generator, which is connected to the voltage regulator, advantageously via a microprocessor device or a pulse duration modulation circuit connected to the final regulating stage of the voltage regulator for gating the exciting current. So that the generator can be dimensioned to operate above its maximum rated temperature and can be operated in a superexcited state, the method of controlling the generator includes the steps of increasing the exciting current in the exciting winding beyond the standard exciting current to operate the generator at a higher load than the standard load; measuring a temperature T.sub.

Abstract: An electrical control system for an electrically heated window in a motor vehicle has a voltage source including a generator, a voltage regulator for regulating a generator output voltage, a transformer switched between the generator and a heating window, the generator output voltage being increased before supplying to the heatable window, and a unit for measuring a temperature of the transformer and interrupting a communication between the transformer and the voltage source in the event of exceeding an adjustable limiting temperature.

Abstract: Fresh air from an area located outside of the engine compartment is supplied to an alternator in a motor vehicle by ventilator. The ventilator is supplied with voltage from the alternator power supply system, and since a failure of the ventilator could lead to destruction of the alternator due to heat, the functioning of the ventilator is monitored by a device or circuit for monitoring and/or controlling the ventilator. This circuit also has a device for self-checking and controls the additional ventilator as a function of the alternator temperature by a device for measuring alternator temperature electrically connected to it.

Abstract: An electrical heating arrangement for a motor vehicle comprises a heating resistor that is energizable directly by the power generator provided that within a network of consuming devices failure has been detected and also provided that essential elements of the network such as battery or engine temperature are within predetermined limits. Upon detection of a failure this error condition is optically indicated and the connection between the heating resistor and the generator is interrupted.