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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of a spark plug in an engine?
Who was the first person to use a spark plug on a gasoline internal combustion piston engine?
Which of the following materials can be used to make modern spark plugs?
How does the spark plug gap affect ignition efficiency?
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What component is responsible for converting low battery voltage into high voltage for spark plug ignition?
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What happens when there is a sudden interruption of current in the primary coil of an electronic ignition system?
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What component of the ignition system distributes high voltage to the appropriate spark plug for engine ignition?
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In an electronic ignition system, what triggers the distributor to distribute energy to the spark plugs?
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How do modern ignition systems differ from older systems in terms of timing adjustment?
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What function does the high voltage converter serve in an electronic ignition system?
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Study Notes
- The spark plug is a crucial component in the engine, responsible for igniting the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
- The first spark plug was used by Belgian engineer John Joseph Etienne Lenoir in 1860 on a gasoline internal combustion piston engine.
- Spark plugs generate sparks to ignite the fuel mixture, driving the piston downwards in the engine cylinders.
- Different vehicles have a varying number of spark plugs; for example, a four-cylinder engine has four spark plugs, while a six-cylinder engine has six.
- Modern spark plugs can be made of materials like copper, platinum, or iridium, with each material offering different benefits in terms of performance and longevity.
- The gap between the center electrode and the ground electrode of a spark plug, known as the spark plug gap, plays a crucial role in ignition efficiency and varies based on the vehicle's specifications.
- Ensuring proper spark plug maintenance and functionality is essential for optimal engine performance and fuel efficiency.- The text discusses the process of converting low battery voltage into the thousands of volts needed to create a spark on a spark plug to ignite fuel in an engine.
- This transformation is achieved through a high voltage converter consisting of two coils: a primary coil and a secondary coil, with the secondary coil having hundreds of times more turns than the primary coil.
- The primary coil carries the current from the battery and can be interrupted instantly by a breaker or solid-state device in an electronic ignition system.
- The high voltage converter acts as an electromagnet and an inductor, where a sudden interruption of current in the primary coil leads to the collapse of the magnetic field, inducing a high voltage current in the secondary coil.
- The high voltage is then sent to a distributor via a well-insulated high voltage wire, which connects to a rotor in the distributor that distributes energy to the appropriate spark plug to ignite the engine.
- The distributor cap is shown to have a rotor inside that rotates with the engine, making contact with different spark plugs to ensure proper ignition.
- Different types of ignition systems are mentioned, with older systems relying on mechanical timing while modern systems use Electronic Control Units (ECUs) that can adjust timing according to different needs.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of spark plugs and ignition systems, including their role in igniting fuel mixtures, materials used in spark plug construction, and the functioning of high voltage converters. Learn about spark plug maintenance, the importance of spark plug gaps, and the evolution from mechanical to electronic ignition systems.
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