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Charge Indicator

The purpose of the Charge Indicator is to advise the driver that the vehicle's electrical system is not operating at peak efficiency and service should be performed.

The charge indicator operates on the basis of opposing voltages. If there is no output through the diode trio, then the lamp circuit is completed to ground through the rotor field.

Diode output applies voltage to the previously grounded side of the bulb, turning the bulb off (No current flow with equal voltage on both sides of the bulb).

Fig 1: Generator Schematic - (R50) Diagram
G04730136Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.