ELECTRICAL

SYSTEMS
 Automobile:
 The electrical system comprises a storage
battery, generator, starting (cranking) motor,
lighting system, ignition system, and various
accessories and controls.
 Originally, the electrical system of the
automobile was limited to the ignition
equipment.
 WHAT IS THE CAR’S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM?
 The electrical system in any vehicle is a network of components
and circuits that deliver current to power, switch, signal, or
otherwise help perform operations.
 For internal combustion engine-powered vehicles, it’s considered a
closed circuit that generates its own electricity whenever the engine
is running.
 Household electrical systems in the US are typically considered
110/120V, but cars use a much lower voltage. They’re considered
12-volt systems, although a battery normally stores around 12.6
volts when it’s at rest.
 When the car is charging, it can be up to 14.8 volts.
 Working principle
 The working of a car’s electrical system is less complex
and can be easily understood.

 All electrical devices in a vehicle are designed with

switches or relay systems, with the major source of
energy (battery) all receiving power.

 So, immediately the engine starts the starter motor,

which is an electrical device that receives power from
the battery.

 The combustion process keeps the engine running and

the alternator is used to charge the battery.
 This alternator’s voltage is less than the battery voltage
when the engine is not running. This is because the
current from the battery is used to power the vehicle
loads and not the alternator. Alternators are designed
with diodes that prevent current from flowing into
them.

 In a situation where the engine is running, the

alternator’s current output is greater than the battery
voltage.

 The current flows from the alternator to the electrical

load in the vehicle and the battery to charge it up.
 This complex network has several key components, and
each has a task or tasks to manage. While there are
others, these are six of the most notable parts to
consider in a standard car electrical system.

• Battery.
• A car battery is a storage device that powers the electrical system
whenever the engine is off, and its main role is to deliver the power
necessary to start the engine. It’s also a reserve energy source
when the engine is running, which is also when it replenishes its
charge. The battery consists of six cells, each slightly more than
two volts each. They store electrical energy by converting it to
chemical energy, then converting it back when it’s demanded by
systems in the car.
 Alternator.
 The alternator, also more accurately known as a
generator, amplifies a tiny charge from the
battery into a high-amperage current whenever
the engine is running, using the principles of
electromagnetism. The power it generates is
used to power systems while the car is on, and
excess energy is delivered to the battery to top it
up so it can start the engine the next time it
needs to.
• Starter motor.
• The only job the starter motor performs is to initiate the combustion
process by moving the crankshaft from a stop. It spins the flywheel
or flex plate, employing gear reduction to make the most of its
effort. It’s a high-amperage electric motor and, once the ignition is
disengaged, the starter stops rotating and retracts until the next
time it’s needed.
• Electrical wiring.
• All electrical components require power and/or communication, and
electrical wiring is routed throughout the vehicle to connect the
systems together. The wires are joined with connectors when they
need to be able to disconnect for service, and the thickness or
gauge of the wiring varies depending on how much current the
system requires. For example, battery cables and starter motor
cables are much thicker than wires that carry speed sensor signals.
• Fuses.
• To protect electrical circuits, a vehicle is equipped with
one or several fuse panels. Fuses are inline circuit
breakers that burn out when a circuit is drawing more
current than it can safely handle.
• Relays.
• These devices are normally found in fuse panels as well,
and they act as an electrically operated switch that allows
current to flow in a specified direction when it’s activated.
They’re commonly used for controlling power
windows, headlights, and other high-power circuits that a
normal switch alone can’t handle. Relays can take a
small electrical input to switch a high-powered circuit
safely and reliably.
 BATTERY
ALTERNATOR

ALTERNATOR
BUY
 FUSE