Project - Analysis of a practical automotive wiring circuit

1.Identify each of the major elements in the above automotive wiring diagram.

a) Generator

b) Battery

c) Starter

d) Ignition coil

e) Ammeter

f) Foot selector switch

g) Breaker

i) Fuse

j) Current and voltage regulator

2. Explain the purpose and working of any three elements briefly.

Generator: A generator is a machine that turns mechanical energy into electrical energy. It provides electricity to devices and appliances when you are not connected to the power grid. It uses the mechanical energy supplied to it to force the movement of electric charges present in the wire of its windings through an external electric circuit. Generators are important safety equipment during natural disasters such as hurricanes and snowstorms, or during any power outage.

Fuse: In electronics and electrical engineering, a fuse is an electrical safety device that operates to provide overcurrent protection of an electrical circuit. The fuse breaks the circuit if a fault in an appliance causes too much current to flow. This protects the wiring and the appliance if something goes wrong. The fuse contains a piece of wire that melts easily.

It is a sacrificial device; once a fuse has operated it is an open circuit and must be replaced or rewired, depending on its type.

Fuses have been used as essential safety devices from the early days of electrical engineering. Today there are thousands of different fuse designs which have specific current and voltage ratings, breaking capacity, and response times, depending on the application. The time and current operating characteristics of fuses are chosen to provide adequate protection without needless interruption. Wiring regulations usually define a maximum fuse current rating for particular circuits. Short circuits, overloading, mismatched loads, or device failure are the prime or some of the reasons for fuse operation. When a damaged live wire makes contact with a metal case that is connected to the ground, a short circuit will form and the fuse will melt.

A fuse is an automatic means of removing power from a faulty system; often abbreviated to ADS (Automatic Disconnection of Supply).

Breaker:A circuit breaker is an electrical safety device designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by an overcurrent or short circuit. Its basic function is to interrupt current flow to protect equipment and to prevent the risk of fire.

Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.

Circuit breakers are made in varying sizes, from small devices that protect low-current circuits or individual household appliances, to large switchgear designed to protect high voltage circuits feeding an entire city. The generic function of a circuit breaker, or fuse, as an automatic means of removing power from a faulty system, is often abbreviated as OCPD (Over Current Protection Device).

3.If the total load is 10A from battery, what should be the fuse rating?

Here,

Total load(I)=10A

fuse rating=?

Voltage(V)=30V [Typical Car battery voltage is 30V ]

we know that;

P=V*I

P=30*10

P=300 W

fuse rating=I=(P*1.5)/V

I=(300*1.5)/30

I=15A

The fuse rating is more than the maximum load of the appliance to avoid the short circuits or damage of appliance due to over flow of load. we must maintain the fuse rating 25% greater than the total load. so that the fuse rating is to be 15A.

4.If 500W is the load, what is the voltage and capacity of battery you recommend?

Here,

I=10A (Given)

P=500W

we know that,

From the power formula,

P=V*I

V=P/I

V=500/10

V=50V

capacity (C)= I*T

=10*1

C= 10Ah

Hence the battery is 50 V & 10Ah capacity.

5.Identify any two elements which are connected parallel to each other. Why they are connected in parallel?

Horn: Parallel switching of high and low tones is used and the main sound frequencies of these signals are harmoniously combined.

All lights:Each light in a parallel circuit has its own circuit. The individual currents add up to the total current. The voltage for each light is the same. As opposed to a series circuit, if one light malfunctions in a parallel circuit, the other lights still light up

6.Identify any two elements which are connected in series. Why they are connected in series?

Battery:connected in series with high voltage to improve the drivability and energy efficiency

Ammeter:An ammeter is a device which measures the amount of current flowing in a circuit. It is a very low resistance(nearly zero) device. If it will be connected in parallel, it would draw most of the current and would get damaged.