How the charging system works Flashcards
Why does a car need a charge?
A car uses quite a lot of electricity to work the ignition and other electrical equipment.
Can a car run on an ordinary battery?
If the power came from an ordinary battery, it would soon run down. So a car has a rechargeable battery and a charging system to keep it topped up.
what is the battery composed of? How does it produce an electric current?
The battery has pairs of lead plates immersed in a mixture of sulphuric acid and distilled water.
Half of the plates are connected to each terminal. Electricity supplied to the battery causes a chemical reaction that deposits extra lead on one set of plates.
When the battery supplies electricity, exactly the opposite happens: the extra lead dissolves off the plates in a reaction that produces an electric current.
What are the 2 main parts of the electrical system?
The battery and the alternator are the main parts of the electrical system.
How is the alternator connected to the engine? where does this electricity from the alternator go?
The alternator is connected to the engine with a belt, so when the engine is running the alternator is creating electricity, which is then stored in the battery.
What is used to start the car?
The battery is used to start the car. All of the car’s electrical accessories run off of the battery, such as power windows and locks, radios and DVD players. The car’s fuel pump, fuel injection system and ignition system also run off the car’s electrical system.
