CHAPTER 4:

AUTOMOTIVE
ELECTRICAL
Starting System
SYSTEM

Overview

In order to start the engine, it must first be

rotated at some speed for air-fuel mixture
to enter the cylinders.
It is the purpose and function of the
starting circuit to create the necessary
power by converting electrical energy from
the battery into mechanical energy at the
starter motor and rotate the engine.
starting system includes the battery,
starter motor, solenoid, relay, starter drive,
and ignition switch.

Starting circuit

Starting System Components

1. The Starter motor. The starter an electric
motor can provide high power at low speed to
crank an engine. Cranking speed required for the
engine to start is 60 to 250 rpm.
2. The Battery. The battery must be of the correct
capacity and be at least 75% charged to provide
the necessary current and voltage for correct
operation of the starter.
3. The Starter solenoid or relay. Is an
electromagnetic switch containing two separate
but connected electromagnetic windings. This
switch is used to engage the starter drive and to
control the current from the battery to the starter
motor.

Starting System Components

4. TheStarterdrive.Thestarterdriveusesasmallgearthat
contactstheengineflywheelgearandtransmitsstartermotor
powertorotatetheengine(minstartingspeed100RPM).
5. TheIgnitionswitchTheignitionswitchandsafetycontrol
switchescontrolthestartermotoroperation.
An inhibitor (neutral
safety) switch is used
to prevent the vehicle
from being started
while in gear.

Computer-Controlled Switch System

Types of switch system:
Key-operated
Push Start Button
Remote Vehicle Start (RVS)
Keyless Entry (Smart card)

CHAPTER 5:
AUTOMOTIVE
ELECTRICAL
Charging System
SYSTEM

CHARGING SYSTEM

All vehicles operate electrical components

by taking current from the battery. It is the
purpose and function of the charging to
keep the battery fully charged and to
satisfy the demands of the ignition and
electrical systems.
The charging system includes the
alternator, voltage regulator, the battery,
and the indicator gauge or warning light on
the dashboard.

 As long as the engine is running, all of the

power for the accessories is delivered by the
alternator. The battery is actually a load on the
charging system. The only time that the battery
would supply power with the engine running is
when the current capacity of the alternator is
exceeded or when engine is at a very low idle

CHARGING SYSTEM COMPONENTS

1. The Alternator
. Analternatoris an electrical generator that
converts mechanical energy to electrical energy
in the form of alternating current.
. A battery cannot store alternating current;
therefore, this alternating current is changed to
direct current (DC) by diodes inside the
generator.

Alternator working principles

Arotorinsideageneratoristurnedbyabeltanddrivepulley
turnedbytheengine.Themagneticfieldoftherotorgenerates
acurrentinthewindingsofthestatorbyelectromagnetic
induction.
Field current flowing
through the slip rings
to the rotor creates
alternating north &
south poles on the
rotor, with a magnetic
field
between each finger of
the rotor.

2. Voltage Regulator
. The voltage regulator controls the field current
applied to the alternator
. When there is no current applied to the field,
there is no voltage produced from the alternator.
When voltage drops below 13.5 V the regulator
will apply current to the field and the alternator
will start charging.
. When the voltage exceeds 14.5 V the regulator
will stop supplying voltage and the alternator
will stop charging.
. During high engine speeds and low current
demands, the regulator will adjust the field
current to lower the alternator output voltage.
Conversely, when the vehicle is idling and the
current demands may be high, the regulator will

3. Warning indicator light or ammeter

. To alert the driver of a malfunction in the charging
system
. An ammeter also indicates the condition of the
charging system. A low battery will be indicated by a
high charging current (+). A wiring short or faulty
accessory will show as a high rate of discharge (-).

4. Automotive Battery
. An important component in the auto electrical
system
. All batteries used in modern automotive
applications are of the lead-acid storage type.
Essentially, a lead-acid storage
battery is an electro-chemical
device for storing energy in
chemical form.
This energy can be released as
electricity when connected to an
outside circuit. A battery can
perform this operation
repeatedly.

Functions of Battery
To provide current for the starter and ignition
system when cranking
To provide the extra power necessary when the
vehicle's electrical load (radio, lights, etc)
exceeds the supply from the charging system
current
To act as a voltage stabilizer or reservoir in the
electrical system, so that evens out voltage
spikes and prevents them from damaging
other components in the electrical system

Battery Constructions:
1. Plate grids & Separators

two types of plates -- positive negative plates.

The positive plates are grids (lead-antimony
alloy) pasted with active lead peroxide
(PbSO4).
Negative plates are grids pasted with a type of
lead (sponge lead) - Pb.
to prevent the plates from touching (short
circuit), thin sheets of non-conductive porous
material called separators are used. These are
placed between every positive and negative
plate

Battery Constructions:
MaintenanceFreeversusStandardBatteryGrids
Anormalbatteryusesupto5%antimonyintheplategrids
toaddstrength.Themoreamountofantimony,themore
gassing(hydrogenandoxygengasesreleased),andthemore
waterthebatterywilluse.
Maintenancefreebatteriesusecalciuminsteadof
antimony,because0.2%calciumhasthesamestrengthas6%
antimony.

Battery Components:
Electrolyte
mixture of sulfuric acid (H SO ) (25%) and
2
4
water (75%)
the strength or percentage of the sulfuric
acid in the solution is measured by its
specific gravity, that is, the density of the
electrolyte versus the density of pure
water
the specific gravity or electrolyte strength
of a fully charged battery is in the range of
1.260-1.275. This means that its
electrolyte is at least 1.260 times heavier
than pure water

How Battery Works

The most important attribute of a

lead - acid storage battery is its
chemical reversibility, i.e operates
in a constant process of charge
and discharge.
When a battery is connected to a
load that needs electricity, such as
the starter in your car, current
flows from the battery. The battery
begins to be discharged.
In the reverse process, it becomes
charged when current flows back
into it.

How Battery Works

DuringDischargingThepositiveplateleaddioxide(PbO2)
combineswiththeSO4fromtheelectrolyteandreleasesits
O2intotheelectrolyte,formingH2O.Thenegativeplatealso
combineswiththeSO4fromtheelectrolyteandbecomeslead
sulfate(PbSO4).

How Battery Works

DuringChargingThesulfateion(acid)leavesboththe
positiveandthenegativeplatesandreturnstothe
electrolyte,whereitbecomesnormalstrengthsulfuric
acidsolution.Thepositiveplatereturnstoleaddioxide
(PbO2)andthenegativeplateisagainpurelead(Pb).

Open circuite voltage for various

charges
The open circuit voltage , is measured when the engine
is off and no loads are connected. It can be
approximately related to the charge of the battery

CHAPTER 5:
AUTOMOTIVE
ELECTRICAL
Ignition System
SYSTEM

Ignition System
The ignition system provide high intensity
spark to the spark plug to ignite air-fuel
mixture in the combustion chamber.
The spark must be supplied at the right time
and it must has sufficient energy over a range
of condition to ignition the air-fuel charges.
Ignition system consist of :
Battery
Low tension cable
Ignition Coil
Distributor
High tension cable
Spark plugs cable
Spark plugs

Ignition System
The energy for ignition come from battery &
alternator
The voltage is increase by ignition coil.
The system has 2 curcuits:
o The Primary (Low Tension Circuit) to
initiate the sparks
o The Secondary (High tension Circuit)
to produces high voltage and distribute
to the spark plugs.
There are 3 general types of ignition systems:
1. Break Ignition uses contact breaker
point in distributor to initiate the spark.
2. Electronic ignition the switching or
triggering of the primary circuit is
carried out electronically.
3. Direct Ignition has no distributor