Department of Agricultural Engineering

Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST

BENEFICIENT, THE MOST MERCIFUL

Chapter No. 12
Ignition & Electrical System

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Purpose

Electrical system provides electricity to;

 Ignition system (SI engine)
 Self starter or cranking mechanism
 Light system
 Charge battery

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Diesel Engine
In diesel engine, high pressure during
compression stroke raises the temperature
of the air to over 1000 ºF. The heated air is
capable of igniting diesel fumes when
injected. According to the method of
ignition the diesel engine is also called as
compression ignition engine. In diesel
engines electrical system is only used to
charge the battery, which is used to
operate self starter or lights.
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Petrol Engine
Petrol engine is also called as spark ignition
engine, since petrol is ignited with the help of an
electric spark produced by spark plug. A spark
in the combustion chamber may be created
when 10 to 15 kV electric current flows
through air gap of spark plug. There are two
ways to create a spark in the engine.
 Battery Ignition
 Magneto Ignition

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Working of a Battery Ignition
This system consists of two circuits,
primary and secondary circuit. The
primary circuit contains a battery of 6 or
12 volts, ammeter, ignition switch, primary
winding of ignition coil, contact breaker
points and condenser.
The secondary circuit contains secondary
winding of the coil distributor and spark
plug.

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Cont’d…
When ignition switch is turned on low voltage (6 or 12 V)
current flows from battery to primary winding of
ignition coil and then to ground terminal through
contact breaker points (CB). This establish a magnetic
field in the coil. When CB points open, the circuit is
interrupted and no current flows from the battery. The
magnetic field collapses, which includes a high voltage in
the secondary winding of the coil. High voltage current
passes across the air gap of a spark plug and thus
creates a spark. Distributor is used to develop spark in
multi-cylinder engine at right time accordance with the
firing order

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7
Magneto Ignition
It is similar to the battery ignition but there is no
battery to supply electrical power. The system has
permanent magnets, which rotate with the magneto
shaft. When the magnets rotate there is reversal in
the direction of magnetic field, which induces
current in the primary winding. Contact breaker
points interrupt the circuit and help in collapsing of
magnetic field, which induces high voltage in the
secondary circuit. This high voltage, when passes
through spark plug generates a spark in the cylinder.
In a single cylinder engine, the magneto is usually
built into the fly wheel as in motorcycle.
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Component of Ignition System
 Battery
 Ignition Coil
 Contact breaker points
 Condenser
 Spark Distributor
 Spark plug
 Dynamos & Alternator
 Self Starter

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 Battery
It is a device to store electricity generated by chemical reaction.
Battery is made of group of cells, three cells for 6 volts and 6
cells for 12 volts. Each cell has two types of plates (one positive
and other negative). Positive group of plates are made of lead
oxide (PbO2), whereas negative plates are made of Lead (Pb). All
the positive plates in a cell are connected together as are the
negative plates. The plates (Positive & Negative) are kept
separate from each other with the help of a separator. The
plates are immersed in a dilute solution of sulfuric acid (H2So4).
When an external circuit is connected to the battery the two
different types of the plates tends to become the same. The
plates get covered with sulphate. Also the acid electrolyte
grows weaker and tends to become water. The following
reaction explains this situation.
PbO2 + Pb + 2 H2SO4 = 2PbSO4 + H20
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Cont’d…
Some hydrogen is also generated during above
reaction, which escapes through vents provided
on the cell covers. In this condition the battery
is said to be discharged. But battery may be
charged with the help of generator or
alternator, which is an other component in
electrical system. The charging current removes
the sulphate from led plates and return it to the
acid electrolyte. Charging restores the battery
to its original conditions with two different
kinds of plates and a relative strong acid.
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Battery Specifications
Each cell provides 2 volts. To get 12 volts connect 6 cells
together in series. Specific gravity of H2SO4 is 1.27
when fully charged.Water to acid ratio is 64:36.

12
 Ignition Coil
The ignition coil is transformer, which steps up 6 or
12 volts of battery to 6000 to 20,000 volts, thereby
helping the current to jump across the electrodes
of the spark plug. The coil consists of two windings,
the primary and the secondary. The primary
winding contain about 200 to 300 turns of copper
wire whereas the secondary winding contains
15,000 to 20,000 turns of copper wire. High
voltage in secondary winding is induced by the
interruption of the magnetic field of primary
winding due to opening up of contact breaker
point. 13
Contact Breaker (CB) Point
It is a cam operated automatic switch used
for opening and closing the primary circuit
at the required instant. This is the weakest
part of the ignition system contained in the
distributor. It consists of two points made
of tungsten, one is stationary or grounded
and the other is mounted on the pivoted
lever. The CB point is opened and closed by
the rotation of cam of the distributor

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Condenser
The collapsed magnetic field also cuts across the primary
winding which induces a voltage in this winding. When
the contact breaker points begin to open, this voltage
causes the current to flow through primary winding.
This feedback of electrical energy is very harmful and
undesirable due to the following reasons.
 It produces unnecessary arc across the contact breaker
points thereby burning and wearing the points.
 An arc across the points consumes most of the energy
stored in the magnetic field and thereby reduces the
voltage across the secondary winding, which produces a
weaker spark at the spark plug.

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Cont’d…
 The voltage induced in the primary
winding due to collapsing of magnetic field
oppose the voltage supplied by the
battery when CB points are closed for
next cycle. This shows down the building
up of magnetic field and its quick
collapsing.

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 Distributor
 A distributor is an enclosed
rotating shaft used in spark-
ignition internal combustion
engines that have mechanically-
timed ignition. The distributor's
main function is to route secondary,
or high voltage, current from
the ignition coil to the spark
plugs in the correct firing order, and
for the correct amount of time.
Except in magneto systems, the
distributor also houses a mechanical
or inductive breaker switch to open
and close the ignition coil's primary
circuit. 17
Spark Plug
A spark plug consists of two electrodes kept by separate
by heat resistant material usually by porcelain. An air gap
of about 0.6 mm is provided between two terminals of
the electrodes. Spark plugs may be described as either
hot or cold.
Hot Spark Plug: Used in light engines with long insulation
to prevent the escape of heat.
Cold Spark Plug: Used in heavy duty engines with short
insulation, which helps easy escape of heat escape of
heat developed in these engines.

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 Dynamos & Alternator
 Both generate electricity for lights, charging the
battery and develop spark (in petrol engine).
Dynamo produces direct current with the help of a
commutator whereas alternator generates
alternating current, which is converted to DC by
using an electronic device called a diode. Dynamo
needs more repair and maintenance as
commutator brushes are worn out or gets dirty.
Alternator does not uses these brushes so fewer
maintenance problems are expected.

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Self Starter
 It is an electric motor, which is used to start a
cold engine. The motor is usually supplied by a
12 Volt battery. The motor drives the small
pinion which, when geared to the flywheel
rotates the engine for staring. A special switch
called solenoid used to engage the pinion with
flywheel. Once the engine starts the gear is
retracted upon release of starting switch.
Starter motors draw heavy current from the
battery and can drain battery very quickly if
used for prolonged periods.
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