Automotive Electronics and

Electrical Systems

Chapter Two
Automotive Ignition System

Semere M.
 Introduction

 In spark ignition engines, the compressed air fuel

mixture in the combustion chamber is ignited by the
sparks produced by the ignition system. There are two
types of ignition systems. These are the contact point
ignition system and the electronic (transistorised)
ignition system.
 In this unit the induction process in the ignition system,
the property of inductors the operation of both types of
ignition systems, the components of the ignition systems
and their functions, the causes of ignition failure, the
checks and adjustments of the ignition systems are
thoroughly explained.
 The purpose of the ignition system

 The purpose of the ignition system is to produce the

high voltage surges required to ignite the
compressed air fuel mixture in the engine
combustion chamber at the proper instant under all
speed and load conditions. The ignition system is
supplied a 12 volt or less battery voltage or charging
system voltage and increases to 50,000 to 30000
volts required to create a spark across the spark plug
electrodes in the combustion chamber.
 Inductors and inductance

 In direct current circuit (D.C) a steady current that

does not change in value is not affected by
inductance. However, when the direct current circuit
is being turned on and off between zero and its
steady valve, the inductance affects at the time of
switching. This effect with a sudden change is called
the transient response.
Inductance of a coil depends on how the coil is wound,
and the following are the factors that affects the
inductance of a conductor.
 The greater number of turns (N) increases
inductance (L). Doubling the number of turns
increases the inductance four times
 Inductance increases with permeability of force
 The inductance decreases with more length for the
same number of terns
For a long coil, where the length is at least three times, the
diameter, the inductance can be calculated from the formula.

𝜇×𝑁2 ×𝐴
L = 𝐻
𝑙

Where l = length in meter

A = Area in meter square
 = absolute permeability constant factor for air or
vacuum is 1.26x10-6
N= Number of turns
 Self induction effect (How V1 opposes di/dt)

 When current flows through a coil a magnetic field is

generated at the same time an electromotive force (EMF)
is created which impedes the generation of magnetic flux
in the coil. Therefore for a current to reach its maximum
valve, it requires a certain period to reach its maximum
valves, or saturation valve. On the other hand when
current is flowing in a coil and that current is cut of
suddenly an EMF is generated in the coil in the direction
in which the current tending to flow in this way when
current is cut off the coil generates EMF which acts to
impede change in the coils magnetic flux. This is the self
induction effect.
 𝑑𝑖
𝑉1 = 𝐿 × 𝑑𝑡
where V1 = Induced voltage
L = Inductance in Hennery (H)
The following figure illustrates the relation between current flow in a coil and back
EMF
 Mutual inductance

 Two coils have mutual inductance (M) of one Henry

when a current change of one ampere per second in
one coil induces one volt in the other coil. The effect
of a coil to induce on the near by coil is affected by
the coefficient of coupling (k), the fraction of total
flux from one coil linking another coil. For example if
all the flux of L1 links L2 then K equals unity or one if
half the flux links the other, K = 0.5.
 𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑥 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝐿1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐿2
Coefficient coupling (K) =
𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑥 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝐿1
 The coefficient of coupling is increased by placing the coils
closer together, possibly with one would on top of the other,
by placing them parallel to each other and by winding them
on a common iron core.
 A high value of K, called tight coupling allows the current in
one coil to induce more voltage in the other loose coupling
have the opposite effect. In the extreme effect zero coupling
there is no mutual inductance.
M =𝐾 𝐿1 𝐿2
 Examples

1. A coil induces 2V with change of current 1A/S, how

much is the inductance of the coil?
2. A coil has inductance (L) 8 H with 125 turns, if the
number of turns doubled, how much will L be?

Solution
𝑉 2𝑣
1. 𝐿 = 𝑑𝑖 1 = = 2𝐻
𝑑𝑡 1𝐴 𝑠
2. 𝐿 = 32𝐻
The ignition coil generates a high voltage current by
means of mutual induction that takes place between
the primary coil and the secondary coil when the
primary current is suddenly cut off by the opening of
the breaker points.
The amount of E.M.F induce is determined by
a. Amount of magnetic flux
b. Number of coil windings
c. Rate at which magnetic flux changes
 In order to obtain a large EMF due to mutual
inductance(secondarily generated voltage), the
current flowing in the primary coil should be as large
as possible and the cut-off of the current be rapid.
 Requirements of the ignition system

 A strong spark
The voltage that is supplied to the plugs must be high
enough to ensure the generation of the powerful spark
across the spark plug gaps. This is because the compressed
air fuel mixture has electrical resistance.
 Proper ignition timing
To obtain optimal combustion of the air fuel mixture, there
must be means of varying ignition timing in accordance
with the engine RPM and load
 Sufficient durability
The ignition must have sufficient reliability to endure the
vibration and heat of combustion and high voltage of the
ignition system itself
 The ignition system components and their function

The contact point ignition system included the battery

the ignition coil, the ignition distributor, the spark
plugs, the wires and cables that connect them
 Battery: It supplies current to the primary circuit of
the ignition System.
 Ignition switch: to open and close the primary
circuit of the ignition System
 Ignition Coil: It is used to produce high voltage
surges by the Principle of induction in the secondary
winding.
 Ignition coil construction

 Core: It consists of thin soft iron laminations. The core conducts

magnetic lines of force. Hence, it increases the efficiency and output
of the coil by promoting faster and more complete coil saturation.

Two windings
 Primary winding: It consists of approximately 250 turns of
relatively heavy wire and wound around the core. It is insulated
with special varnish.
 Secondary winding: It consists of approximately 20,000 turns
of very fine varnished wire. It is wound inside the primary winding
around on the same iron core. The layers of the secondary windings
are insulated from each other by high dielectric paper.

 Oil in the coil: Oil may be added in the coil to dissipate heat
rapidly, to provide greater insulation, and to reduce the possibility
of insulation failure.
 Ignition coils can be with resistors or without resistors.
When current flows through a coil, the rise of current
delays due to the counter electromotive force induced in
the conductor as the number of turns increases.
Therefore, at higher engine speeds the current through
the primary circuit is not enough to induce the required
voltage in the secondary winding.
 But an ignition coil with resistor has less coil windings.
Hence, the counter E.M.F that impedes the rise of
current is minimized causing the primary voltage rise to
be faster.
 Ignition Distributors

 The distributor shaft is driven by a gear on the camshaft and it

has cam lobes equal in number with the number of cylinders
of the engine.
 The ignition distributor performs two functions in the ignition
system. First, its breaker or contact points are as a switch to
open and close the primary ignition circuit. When the points
are closed, current through the coil builds up magnetic field.
When the points are opened, the magnetic field is collapsed
creating a high voltage current.
 Secondly, it distributes the high voltage current to the proper
cylinder at the proper time. The lobes on the cam moves
against the rubbing block. Thus pushes the movable arm so
that the contact points are opened. As soon as the cam passes
out from the rubbing block, the spring pushes the movable
arm in and the points are closed again.
 Distributor cap and Rotor

 The rotor and distributor cap form a rotary switch to

distribute the high voltage surges induced in the
secondary winding of the ignition coil. Since the
rotor sits on top of the distributor shaft. As the shaft
rotates, the blade of the cap moves past the terminals
which are arranged in a circle around the cap. Each
of this outside terminals is connected to a spark plug
cable to a spark plug.
 Capacitor

 The function of the capacitor or condenser is to reduce the

arcing at the contact points. When the points first separate by
providing a place where the current can be stored until the
points are completely separated. This action also aids in the
rapid collapse of the magnetic field with in the ignition coil so
necessary for the development of high voltage in the
secondary current
 A capacitor consists basically of two conducting surfaces or
plates insulated from one another. The characteristics of a
capacitor lie in its capacity to accept and store an electric
charge and to release this charge again when necessity exists
between the plates of the capacitor.
 We have reduced the arc and there by produced a sudden
interruption of the current at the contacts and thus a rapid
collapse of the magnetic field.
 Advance mechanism

Need for timing advance

 For the given air-fuel mixture and engine design, the
time required for mixture to burn remains constant
(approximately 0.002-0.003 seconds). As engine
speed increase, the spark must occur earlier to
assure complete burning of air –fuel mixture.
Depending on the engine design, the air-fuel mixture
burning should be completed between 100-230 ATDC
of the piston on the power stroke. This constant
burning speed requires that the spark occur earlier
with increasing engine speed.
Centrifugal (Mechanical) Advance
Vacuum Advance
 Vacuum Advance

 When the engine is operating at part throttle there is

vacuum in the intake manifold. The partly closed throttle
valve prevents the maximum amount of air fuel mixture
entering the intake stroke. With less air fuel mixture in
the cylinders, the mixture is not compressed as much
during the compression stroke and does not burn as fast
when ignited.
 The vacuum advancer has a flexible diaphragm that is
connected to a movable breaker plate. When the vacuum
is applied, it pulls the diaphragm out ward against the
spring force. This rotates the breaker plate. The points
are moved ahead so that they open and close earlier.
 Static Advance

Reading Assignment
Static Spark Advance
Total Spark Advance
Spark plugs
 It ignites the air-fuel mixture inside the engine
cylinder.
 The spark plug provides a spark gap inside the
engine cylinder. When the engine is operating the
high voltage current produced by the ignition coil
arcs across the gap and creates spark that ignites the
air fuel mixture in the cylinder
 The sparking performance of the spark plug depends
on the electrode shape, the electrode gap, the
compression pressure, and the electrode
temperature.