ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OPERATION
UNDERSTANDING ATOM
Understanding electricity requires a basic knowledge of
physics. Everything we see, touch, feel, or smell is
composed of matter. All matter made of atoms have atomic
structure.
Theatomic structure of an atom includes three particles:
protons, neutron and electrons. Protons and neutron are
found in the nucleus, at the center of atom
Protons have a positive(+) electrical charge
Neutrons have no electrical charge
Electrons have a negative(-) electrical charge
CONDUCTORS
An electrical conductor is a material that contains free
electrons and easily conducts electrical current. The
movement of free electrons through a conductor creates
current flow. CURRENT FLOW is the movement of electrical
energy through a conductor.
Several materials are used as conductors in motor vehicles
Copper is an excellent con doctor used in automotive
wiring systems.
Iron and steel, although not as good as copper, are used
in a vehicle’s body and frame as electrical grounds.
Tinand lead, used in solder connections, are also
conductors but not quite as good as iron and steel.
Gold and silver are good conductors. They are used in
the microchips in a vehicle’s computerized control
systems.
INSULATORS
Some materials do not have free
electrons in their atomic structure. They
hold their electrons very tightly. Thus
they lack free electrons. Such a
material, which is a poor electrical
conductor, is called an INSULATOR.
Three materials are commonly used as
insulators in a motor vehicles.
Plastic is used as an insulator
around wires and plugs.
Rubber is used in insulating mounts
for electrical equipment
Glass is used to insulate and enclose
electrical components such as
lightbulbs
THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY
Traditional theory describes electricity
as the flow of current from a positive
source to a negative source. Electron
flow theory describes electricity as the
flow of electrons from a negative source
to a positive source.
VOLTAGE
Is a measurement of the pressure that causes
electrical energy(current) to flow. The flow of
electrons through a wire is much like the flow of
water through a pipe. A wire has free electrons
that can flow. A pipe is filled by a water that can
flow. No movement takes place unless a force or
pressure is applied. In the case of electrons,
voltage supplies the pressure to cause electrical
energy to flow. In the case of water, a force as
basic as gravity can supply the pressure to cause
water flow.
Voltage refers to the
electromotive force (EMF) that
moves electrons. Electrical
pressure is measured in volts and
uses the symbol E.
CURRENT
Current flow is created when
voltage moves electrons through a
conductor
DIRECT CURRENT
Current flow in a single directions is
called direct current. The direction of
flow depends on polarity of the
applied voltage. Most of automotive
vehicle’s electrical circuits use DIRECT
CURRENT.
ALTERNATING CURRENGT
Current that changes its direction of flow in a regular and
predictable way is called alternating current. AC current
moves back and forth in the circuit, reversing direction
whenever the polarity of the applied voltage changes. The
current in your house or apartment is AC.
RESISTANCE
Is the opposition to current flow.
The symbol R is used to represent
resistance.
No material is a perfect conductor
of electricity. Even copper, a very good
conductor, has some resistance.
The resistance of conductor depends on the:
Type of material from which it is made.
Size of the material(for example, wire
guage)
Length of the conductor.
Temperature of the conductor. The lower
the temperature, the less the resistance.
Battery cables are made of
copper, have a large size, and
are short. At normal operating
temperatures, battery cables
have very low resistance
Resistance can also be designed
into a circuit using devices called
resistors.
ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT
Severaltypes of electrical circuits are found in
automotive wiring. The type of circuit use
depends on how and when the electrical
components are supplied with power.
Series circuit
In a series circuit, individual components
are connected end to end form a single
path for current flow.. Because there is
only one path, the same amount of
current flows through every part of the
circuit. In addition, any resistance added
to or removed form the circuit affects
the entire circuit.
Series circuits have two major
disadvantages.
First,when connected in series,
each circuit has to have its own
switch and protective device.
A second advantage is that in series circuit if
one component is open, the entire circuit is
disabled.
For example, if all exterior lighting was
connected in series and one lightbulb burned
out, none of the other lights would light. For
both of these reasons, most automotive
circuits are connected in parallel.
PARALLEL CIRCUITS
In parallel circuit, two or more loads are connected
in separate branches. In most cases the parallel
branches are connected in series with a common
switch and protective device. Equal voltage is applied
to each branch of a parallel circuit. Current flows
divides as it reaches the parallel path. The amount of
current flowing through the other branches. Total
current flow in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum
of the current in each separate branch.
The back up light circuit is an example of
parallel circuit. Assuming that the bulbs
are the same, an equal amount of current
will flow through each bulb. The circuits
headlights, taillights, and turn signals are
other examples of parallel circuit
