The present invention relates to an external power system for transcutaneous energy transfer to an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device has componentry for providing a therapeutic output and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the componentry. The implantable medical device is adapted to be implanted in a patient and comprises a primary coil providing energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil is placed in proximity of the secondary coil, thereby generating a current in the internal power source. An alignment indicator is operatively coupled to the internal power source and reports the alignment as a function of the current generated in the internal power source with a predetermined value associated with an expected alignment between the primary coil and the secondary coil.