Magneto and Distributor venting

Assignment no.2
AMTE 226 - 6B

Submitted by:
OBRADO, John Elly B.

September 16, 2020

Ignition lead

Ignition leads are basically hardwearing conductors that can withstand some serious voltage and lots and lots of use.
Your ignition leads transfer the power from your distributor, ignition coil or magneto to your spark plugs, firing up
your engine. The ignition lead directs the electrical energy from the magneto to the spark plug. The ignition harness
contains an insulated wire for each cylinder that the magneto serves in the engine. One end of each wire is
connected to the magneto distributor block and the other end is connected to the proper spark plug

Ignition harness
The ignition harness leads serve a dual purpose. It provides the conductor path for the high tension voltage to the
spark plug. It also serves as a shield for stray magnetic fields that surround the wires as they momentarily carry
high-voltage current. By conducting these magnetic lines of force to the ground, the ignition harness cuts down
electrical interference with the aircraft radio and other electrically sensitive equipment.
Ignition switches
The ignition switch is different in at least one respect from all other types of switches, when the ignition switch is in
the off position, a circuit is completed through the switch to ground. In other electrical switches, the off position
normally breaks or opens the circuit.
The ignition switch has one terminal connected to the primary electrical circuit between the coil and the breaker
contact points. The other terminal of the switch is connected to the aircraft ground structure. Two ways to complete
the primary circuit are:
1. Through the closed breaker points to ground and
2. Through the closed ignition switch to ground.

Typical ignition switch in off position Typical ignition switch in on position

Radial engine harness
An older radial engine type of ignition harness is a manifold formed to fit around the crankcase of the engine with
flexible extensions terminating at each spark plug. A typical high-tension ignition harness is shown below. Many
older single-row radial engine aircraft ignition systems employ a dual-magneto system, in which the right magneto
supplies the electric spark for the front plugs in each cylinder, and the left magneto fires the rear plugs.