Electrical

Electrical
Basics
Basics

Chasi ng Spar k s
Chasi ng Spar k s
What is Electricity?
Everything that
has substance
and takes up
space, whether it
is solid, liquid, or
gaseous, is
made up of very
small particles
called atoms.
What is Electricity?
Scientists believe all
atoms have negatively
charged particles known
as electrons, which
revolve around a central
core, or nucleus. This
nucleus is believed to
be positively charged,
and to contain other
particles known as
protons and neutrons.
What is Electricity?
Electrons in the inner
orbit or orbits are
known as bound
electrons.
Those in the outer
orbit are called free
electrons, and can
be easily forced out of
their orbits, flowing
from one atom to
another.
Current Flow
Current Flow
The electron theory
states that current
flow is the organized,
forced movement of
free electrons in a
specific direction.
Continuous current
flow in only one
direction is known as
DC or Direct
Current.
Current Flow
Current Flow
Flow that alternates
back and forth is called
Alternating Current.
A good conductor is a
material that has many
free electrons, such as
copper. Lead and gold
have large numbers of
free electrons.
Current Flow
Current Flow
Good conductors
readily transmit
electricity.
The force that causes
electrons to move
from one atom to
another is called
electromotive force
(EMF).
Current Flow
Current Flow
Electromotive force
is caused by a
difference in
electrical potential
and is measured in
volts, also referred
to as voltage.
Current Flow
Current Flow
When electrons begin to flow, the effect is felt
instantly all along the surface of the
conductor, very much as force can be felt all
the way through a row of billiard balls.
Current Flow
Current Flow
Some older cars and
heavy equipment had
their positive battery
terminal connected
to the chassis or
frame and the
negative side of the
circuit was switched.
Practically no
production vehicle
uses this
configuration today.
Current Flow
Current Flow
Todays vehicles
have their negative
terminal battery
terminal connected
to the chassis or
frame, also known
as ground.
The positive feed
The positive feed
wires to vehicle
wires to vehicle
components all
components all
originate at the
originate at the
positive battery
positive battery
terminal
terminal
Current Flow
Current Flow
When a switch is
closed, current
flows from the
battery negative
post to chassis
ground, through the
load and switch,
and to the positive
terminal.
Current Flow
Current Flow
Even though the
ground has the
excess of electrons,
the positive post is
the one that is
generally regarded
as hot.
Current Flow
Current Flow

Electron theory
Electron theory
supposes current
flow to be from
negative to positive,
while Conventional
Theory supposes
the current flows from
positive to negative.
Current Flow
Current Flow
Thus, the current in
automotive circuits is
usually traced from
the source (battery)
to the load (bulb,
motor, etc.) and then
to ground.
Sources of Electricity
Sources of Electricity
A battery is a
chemical source of
electricity. It
contains a number
of positive plates
and an equal
number of
negative plates.
Sources of Electricity
Sources of Electricity
The positive
The positive
and negative
and negative
plates are
plates are
immersed in an
immersed in an
electrolyte
electrolyte
solution
solution
composed of
composed of
water and
water and
sulphuric
sulphuric
acid.
acid.
Sources of Electricity
Sources of Electricity
When the battery is
When the battery is
charged, a
charged, a
chemical reaction
chemical reaction
of the acid on the
of the acid on the
plates results in an
plates results in an
excess of electrons
excess of electrons
collecting on the
collecting on the
negative plates.
negative plates.
Sources of Electricity
Sources of Electricity
If a conductor is
If a conductor is
connected
connected
between the
between the
plates, current
plates, current
(electrons) will flow
(electrons) will flow
through the
through the
conductor from
conductor from
one plate to the
one plate to the
other.
other.
Electromagnetic
Electromagnetic
Induction
Induction
When a
When a
conductor
conductor
connected to a
connected to a
closed circuit is
closed circuit is
passed through a
passed through a
magnetic field,
magnetic field,
current is
current is
produced in the
produced in the
conductor.
conductor.
Electromagnetic
Electromagnetic
Induction
Induction
Alternators, generators, and
Alternators, generators, and
various inductive sensors
various inductive sensors
use this principle to do their
use this principle to do their
work.
work.
Static Electricity
Static Electricity
Electrons can
Electrons can
move from one
move from one
body of matter to
body of matter to
another by
another by
friction. Scuffing
friction. Scuffing
your shoes on
your shoes on
carpet on a cold,
carpet on a cold,
dry day can
dry day can
cause a nice zap!
cause a nice zap!
Lightning
Lightning
is
is
another form
another form
of
of
static
static
electricity
electricity
discharging
discharging
from the
from the
atmosphere
atmosphere
to the earth.
to the earth.
Electrical Circuits
Electrical Circuits
Electrical Circuits
Electrical Circuits
An electrical circuit is a complete path
for current flow basically defined as
being froma power source to a load
component that has resistance and uses
electricity to do its work, and finally a
ground path back to the negative
terminal of the power source.
Circuit Components
Circuit Components
One component
necessary for all
circuits is a power
source.
In an automobile, the power source is the
battery when the engine is switched off and the
alternator when the engine is running..
Circuit Components
Circuit Components
Conductors are
wires and cables,
usually protected
from each other
and ground by
insulation, and
they carry the
current in an
electrical circuit.
Circuit Components
Circuit Components
Note: In an automotive
circuit, the vehicle
chassis and the engine
block are actually
conductors in the
circuit.
Circuit Components
Circuit Components
Controls (switches) are
necessary to turn the circuit
on and off.
Circuit Components
Circuit Components
The Load is a device
that uses up
electricity and turns it
into work.
Light bulbs and motors are
among the examples of
loads in an automotive
circuit
Circuit Components
Circuit Components
The Circuit
Protector is a
device that protects
the conductors and
components in a
circuit in case of an
overload.
Current Will Flow
Current Will Flow
IF...
IF...
The switch is closed
The circuit protector is
not open
Charge is available
Ohms Law
Ohms Law
Ohms Law is the basic rule for the
relationships between voltage, current, and
resistance.
1. CURRENT FLOW IS DIRECTLY
PROPORTIONAL TO VOLTAGE
2. CURRENT FLOW IS INVERSELY
PROPORTIONAL TO RESISTANCE
Ohms Law
Ohms Law
1. CURRENT FLOW IS DIRECTLY
PROPORTIONAL TO VOLTAGE:
Simply put, this means that an increase in
VOLTAGE will cause an INCREASE in current
flow. This is true because voltage is, in effect,
electrical pressure. The higher the voltage,
the higher the pressure, thus the higher the
current flow. Remember:
1 volt pushes 1 amp through 1 ohm.
Ohms Law
Ohms Law
2. CURRENT FLOW IS INVERSELY
PROPORTIONAL TO RESISTANCE
This statement means that
an increase in
RESISTANCE will cause a
DECREASE in current flow.
Ohms Law
Ohms Law
High current
flow
Added
resistance
Lower Current
flow
Ohms Law
Ohms Law
Vol t age
Vol t age
equal s
equal s
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
t i mes
t i mes
Resi st anc e
E is used to
denote volts.
R denotes
resistance.
I denotes
current.
Resi st anc e
Ohms Law
Ohms Law
1 volt pushes 1 amp
through 1 ohm, right?
Okay, how many amps will
12 volts push through 6
ohms?
Resistance 2 ohms
Draw 5 Amps
Resistance 2 ohms
Draw 6 Amps
10
volts
12
volts
Vol t age i s
Vol t age i s
l i k e
l i k e
Pr essur e
Pr essur e
Vol t age i s l i k e Pr essur e
Vol t age i s l i k e Pr essur e
NOTE:
Increasing
voltage in
a given
circuit
always
increases
current
draw.
Vol t age i s l i k e Pr essur e
Vol t age i s l i k e Pr essur e
Voltage is also
Voltage is also
expressed as a
expressed as a
difference in
difference in
potential when it
potential when it
refers to
refers to
electromotive
electromotive
force caused by a
force caused by a
difference in
difference in
electrical charges
electrical charges
between two
between two
points in a circuit.
points in a circuit.
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
Current is
Current is
the flow of
the flow of
electrons
electrons
between two
between two
points in a
points in a
closed
closed
circuit that
circuit that
have a
have a
difference in
difference in
potential.
potential.
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
The unit of
The unit of
measurement
measurement
to determine
to determine
current flow is
current flow is
the
the
ampere
ampere
(abbreviated
(abbreviated
amp ).
amp ).
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
One ampere is
One ampere is
defined as the
defined as the
movement of
movement of
one
one
coulomb
coulomb
of electrons
of electrons
past a given
past a given
point in one
point in one
second. A
second. A
coulomb is
coulomb is
one billion
one billion
billion
billion
electrons.
electrons.
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
Current is
Current is
thus a
thus a
measure of
measure of
the rate of
the rate of
electrical flow.
electrical flow.
It can also be
It can also be
known as
known as
amperage
amperage
or
or
draw
draw
,
,
and is
and is
measured with
measured with
an
an
ammeter
ammeter
.
.
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
When two
When two
loads are
loads are
connected
connected
parallel, as in
parallel, as in
the illustration
the illustration
on the left,
on the left,
each draws
each draws
current
current
independently
independently
of the other.
of the other.
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
In the picture,
In the picture,
bulb A draws
bulb A draws
2 amps, while
2 amps, while
bulb B draws
bulb B draws
1 amp. The
1 amp. The
total current
total current
flow in the
flow in the
circuit is 3
circuit is 3
amps.
amps.
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
In the picture,
In the picture,
bulb A draws
bulb A draws
2 amps, while
2 amps, while
bulb B draws
bulb B draws
1 amp. The
1 amp. The
total current
total current
flow in the
flow in the
circuit is 3
circuit is 3
amps.
amps.
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
Important:
Important:
The total
The total
current draw
current draw
in a parallel
in a parallel
circuit equals
circuit equals
the sum of the
the sum of the
individual
individual
current draws.
current draws.
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
If the same two
If the same two
bulbs are
bulbs are
connected in
connected in
series instead of
series instead of
parallel, their
parallel, their
combined
combined
resistance will
resistance will
be
be
18 ohms
18 ohms
.
.
Cur r ent
Cur r ent
0.67 amps X 18 ohms = 12 v
12 v/ 18 ohms = 0.67 amps
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resistance is an opposition to
current flow offered by a load or a
resistor.
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Even conductors have some
Even conductors have some
resistance; for example, a
resistance; for example, a
piece of 22 gauge copper wire
piece of 22 gauge copper wire
60 feet long has one ohm of
60 feet long has one ohm of
resistance. Larger diameter
resistance. Larger diameter
wires have less resistance.
wires have less resistance.
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Heat
Heat
generally causes
generally causes
resistance to increase in a
resistance to increase in a
conductor or connection.
conductor or connection.
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
An interesting and somewhat volatile
An interesting and somewhat volatile
relationship exists between heat and
relationship exists between heat and
resistance in electrical wiring
resistance in electrical wiring
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Since every connection has some
Since every connection has some
resistance, that resistance produces
resistance, that resistance produces
heat
heat
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e

and that heat produces

and that heat produces
more
more
resistance
resistance
,
,
which in turn produces
which in turn produces
more
more
heat
heat
until current finally stops flowing and
until current finally stops flowing and
the component fails.
the component fails.
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
When resistors are in
When resistors are in
series
series
, the total
, the total
resistance is the sum of the individual
resistance is the sum of the individual
resistances 6+6 = 12
resistances 6+6 = 12
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
When resistors are in
When resistors are in
parallel
parallel
, the total
, the total
resistance equals the source voltage
resistance equals the source voltage
divided by the combined current draw.
divided by the combined current draw.
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
With a 12 volt supply, how much
With a 12 volt supply, how much
amperage would
amperage would
each
each
of these
of these
resistors pull?
resistors pull?
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
So each 6 ohm resistor will pull 2 amps.
And 2 + 2 = 4
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Okay, if the total circuit pulls
Okay, if the total circuit pulls
4 amps
4 amps
, how
, how
many
many
ohms
ohms
of resistance would the total
of resistance would the total
circuit have, based on a 12 volt supply?
circuit have, based on a 12 volt supply?
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Lets try a different combination. With a 12
Lets try a different combination. With a 12
volt source, how much total resistance
volt source, how much total resistance
would this parallel circuit have?
would this parallel circuit have?
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
_______________Amps
_______________Amps
+_______________Amps
+_______________Amps
Equals __________Amps total.
Equals __________Amps total.
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Resi st anc e
Voltage Drop
Its a basic
rule for
closed
circuits that
the voltage
used up or
dropped in
the loads
must be
equal to the
source
voltage.
Voltage Drop
The voltmeter
at point A will
measure the
source
voltage.
If the voltage
measurement
is taken at
point B, what
will the
voltage be?
Voltage Drop
Did you say
zero volts?
Youd be
right.
The voltage
drop is equal
to 12 times
zero, which
comes to
zero volts.
Voltage Drop
When two or
more loads
are in series:
1. The
voltage drop
of each load
is equal to
current draw
times
resistance.
(E = I X R)
Voltage Drop
2. The
sum of all
voltage
drops
equals the
source
voltage.
Voltage Drop
That is, the
closer you
move your
probe to the
ground side
of a circuit...
Voltage Drop
the lower
the measured
voltage will
be.
Voltage Drop
Thus in the
example
shown here:
Total
Resistance = 6
ohms, and draw
= 2 amps.
Voltage Drop
The voltage
drop at the
brightness
control is 2
amps x 3 ohms,
which equals 6
volts.
Voltage Drop
Thus
available
voltage to the
bulb is only 6
volts
Computing Parallel
Resistances by Formula
Computing Parallel
Resistances by Formula
If all the
resistances are
equal, divide
the resistance
of one alone by
the number of
resistors.
Computing Parallel
Resistances by Formula
In this example,
12/4 = 3 ohms
resistance.
Computing Parallel
Resistances by Formula
If there are only
two resistances,
multiply their
values and
divide by the
sum of their
values.
Computing Parallel
Resistances by Formula
In this example:
Computing Parallel
Resistances by Formula
For any three or
more resistances,
first find their
reciprocals,
then add the
reciprocals
together and
divide the total by
one.
Computing Parallel
Resistances by Formula
In this example:
Power Sources and Grounds
Power Sources
The storage
battery
provides
current to all
electrical
systems
when the key
is on and the
engine is off.
Power Sources
The generator maintains the charge in the battery
after the engine is started and supplies electrical
current to all electrically powered equipment.
Grounds
Case Grounds are
used where the
component itself is
securely attached
to a well-grounded
part of the vehicle.
Grounds
Remote
Grounds are
used where
the
component
itself is not
grounded...
Grounds
...or where the remote ground
is used to control the
component. Examples are
reversible motors (power
windows, door locks) and
instrument panel warning
indicator lamps.
Reading Schematics
Basic Rule: The top
of most schematics
is usually hot and
the bottom is
usually ground .
Lets start
by tracing
power from
hot to
ground...
Power is fed to the fuse...
Through circuit 295
and connector C172..
The male side of the
connector is C172M,
while the femaile side
is C172F.
Okay, lets stop right
here. Where is
Connector C172?
How do you find it?
Most wiring books have a location view like this.
Using the numbers and letters, find C172 at A 6
Notice that C172F is on the left and C172M is on
the right These are mating connectors.
Find circuit 295. What is the pin number? What color is
the wire? Write down both pieces of information.
Locate the wire where it
passes through a connector
Now we not only
know where C172
is...
we also know
what the connector
pinout looks like,
AND...
we know which
pin is number 34
on the connector
There are three things we should notice
about this current path.
#1: The truck could
have either of two
switches, depending
on whether it is
equipped with a
manual or automatic
transmission. This is
drawn as an
alternate current
path.
#2: the wires going
into and out of
the switch in
question both
pass through
connector C172.
#3: After the circuit
passes through the
switch, the circuit
number changes
from 295 to 140.
Find circuit number 140. What is the pin number? Write
it down.
With that in
mind, we
inspect all
four pins, i.e.,
the MALE and
FEMALE pins
34 and 32.
Finding no
problem, we
move on...
We know now that
pins 34 and 32 are
both part of the
backup lamp
circuit and that
either pin could be
the cause of a
problem.
Now the circuit
passes through a
splice and two
more connectors.
The splice could
be a problem, but it
is usually taped
into the harness
and can be difficult
to locate. It should
be examined last.
Lets find
connector C148 in
our location
drawing:
Find D10 on the grid and locate connector C148.
This pinout legend is slightly different. Find circuit 140
and double check the wire color to make sure were still
on track Write down the pin number.
Once again, we can find the connector on the vehicle,
then locate the pin in that connector so that we can
check the integrity of the circuit at the connector.
Now lets go on to
find C411 the same
way...
Find F7 on the grid and locate connector C411.
The circuit number were looking for is still 140. Find it
and write down the pin number. Once again, we can go
to this connector, find the pin in question, and check
the circuit.
Our last inline connector is C 403. Lets find it on the
vehicle like we did the others.
Find E10 on the grid and locate connector C403.
The circuit number were looking for is still 140. Find it
and write down the pin number. Once again, we can go
to this connector, find the pin in question, and check
the circuit. By this time we should have a pretty good
idea where the problem is, if we havent already found
it.
One more potential problem point is the ground,
namely G104. Lets locate it.
Find E10 on the grid and locate connector G104.
but on the
schematic the
ground looks very
close to the lamps.
Distance is not
indicated on a
schematic
Notice that the
ground for the
backup lamps is at
the opposite end
of the vehicle
from the lamps