Different types of ignition coils are used in automobile vehicles. In this article, I will discuss the types of ignition coils and their functions in a car.
Types of Ignition Coils
The ignition coil is simply a transformer to step up the voltage in the ignition system. It consists of a soft iron core, primary winding, and secondary winding. The primary windings consist of 200-300 turns of thick wire and the secondary winding of 15,000-20,000 turns of fine wire. The core is formed by the lamination of soft iron.
The ignition coil has two types-
- Core Type Ignition Coil.
- Can Type Ignition Coil.
The types of ignition coils are discussed below. First, we need to discuss what is an ignition coil?
What is an Ignition Coil
The battery is used in the vehicle to supply the electric current to the various components. But, the spark needs a higher voltage to throw the electrons out of the spark plug head. As we know, the higher voltage means the higher ratio of electrons present in the system.
The ignition coil is there to increase the voltage by stepping up it. Imagine the transformer used in your locality. It distributes and steps up the voltage we need like the ignition coil does the same.
The battery supplies a 12-volt DC current, which is not sufficient to spark the fresh charge, this current then goes to the primary windings. These windings are attached to the iron core inside, which generates a magnetic field whenever it passes the current in it.
Then this magnetic field generated current goes to the secondary windings which have more windings than the primary windings. Here, the current steps up to around 15,000 volts, perfect for a spark on a fresh charge. Then this current flows through the high-tension cable to the spark plug to ignite the air-fuel mixture.
Read more - How to charge a 12-volt car battery at home?
Now talk about the types of ignition coils and their functions-
Core Type Ignition Coil
In the core-type ignition coil, the primary winding is wound around the iron core forming a double C with air gaps. The secondary winding wound outside the primary winding. The core is of rectangular cross-section and is made of soft iron lamination.
The core-type ignition coil works based on the principles of electromagnetic induction. As you see in the diagram, the iron core is situated at the core of the system. The primary coil is the innermost coil of wire wound around the iron core. The secondary coil winding has a larger number of windings connected to the primary winding. Between these windings, there are insulators that divide the two parts.
The entire ignition coil assembly is enclosed in a protective outer casing made of materials such as plastic or Bakelite. On one end of the ignition coil, there is a high-tension terminal. This terminal is where the high-voltage current generated in the secondary coil is directed out of the coil and connected to the distributor (in older systems) or to individual spark plug wires (in some older and most modern systems).
This system works as the normal ignition coil working method discussed earlier.
Can Type Ignition Coil
In this type of coil, the secondary winding is wound around the core, and then the primary winding is wound over the secondary winding. The core assembly is placed in a steel casing which is fitted with a cap of insulating materials. The terminals are provided in the cap. The windings are immersed in oil to improve insulation and reduce moisture effects.
How Can Type Ignition Coil Work?
When the ignition switch is turned on, the current flows from the battery through the primary winding. When the contact breaker points open, the primary circuit breaks and the magnetic field collapses. Rapid collapsing of the magnetic field induces high voltage in both the primary and secondary winding.
The current flowing in the primary winding runs towards contact breaker points and is observed by the condenser placed across them, and the circuit is completed through the earth. The high-voltage current flowing through the secondary winding goes to the distributor from where it is distributed to the proper spark plug through the high-tension lead, where it jumps the spark plug gap producing the spark.
Conclusion
The ignition coil is an important component that helps to lead the voltage and helps the spark plug to ignite the fuel and air.
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