Project - Analysis of a practical automotive wiring circuit

1.

• Battery
• Starter
• Ignition Coil
• Distributor
• Generator
• Ammeter 
• Foot selector switch
• Breaker
• Fuse
• Current and voltage regulator
• Junction block
• Ignition switch

2.

     a) Generator

               A generator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical power for use in an extrenal circuit. The purpose of a generator is to supply current for the operation of the ignition system, the lighting system, and all other electrical parts when the engine is running and to replenish the battery after it has supplied current for starting and other purposes when the engine is at rest.

Working : According to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, when a current carrying conductor is placed in a varying magnetic field, an emf is induced in the conductor. The direction of the induced current changes whenever the direction of motion of the conductor changes, according to Fleming's right-hand rule.

     b) Distributor

                A distributor is an ignition component that distributes spark to each of the engine's spark plugs. Voltage is sent from the ignition coil to the distributor cap via a spark plug wire. That voltage then travels from the cap's center terminal to the rotor located inside the distributor.

                As the distributor turns, the rotor turns as well, distributing voltage to each of the cap's outer terminals one at a time.The voltage then travels from each of the distributor's outer terminals, through individual spark plug wires, to each of the spark plugs. Then the spark plug fires, igniting the air-fuel mixture inside the engine.

      c) Ignition coil

               It is an induction coil in an automobile's ignition system that transforms the battery's voltage to the thousands of volts needed to create an electric spark in the spark plugs to ignite the fuel.

               When the ignition switch is on, the current through the primary winding starts to flow, this creates magnetic field in the iron core and around it. As contact breaks in the contact breaker, the primary current collapses. This also collapses the magnetic field in the core. This sudden breaking of the magnetic field induces a very high voltage across the secondary winding. This high voltage is transferred to the spark plug through the distributor to produce spark for the ignition.

3.  

     Given,

               total load = 10A

               battery volage = 12V

               fuse rating = ?

               Power, P = V*I

                            = 12*10

                            = 120W

               fuse-rating = ( P / V ) * 1.25

                                = ( 120 / 12 ) * 1.25

                                = 12.5 A

4.  

         Given, 

                  P= 500W

                  V = 12V

                  P = VI

                  I = P/V

                    = 500/12

                    =  41.66 A

                 battery capacity = load * time

                                         = 41.66A * 1 hour

                                         = 41.66Ah

5. 

         All the lights such as headlamps, tail lights etc are connected in parallel. So, if any one light malfunctions in the circuit, the other one still works. If they are in series, if one stops working then the other will also stop working.

6.  

         The fuse is connected in series with the components to be protected from overcurrent, so that when the fuse blows it will open the entire circuit and stop current through the components. An ammeter is also connected in series to measure the current flowing through a component or circuit.