Electrical Energy makes a car appear to be clever and intelligent. Electricity is the main driving force in the Brain of any car. With electricity, a car can be started and stopped at will, a driver can also listen to music while driving just to mention a few out of the hundreds of uses of electricity in an automobile.
Warning!!! Never try to service the electrical system of your car on your own if you are not a well qualified technician (electrical engineer or technician). This article will help you figure out what can be wrong with your car’s electrical system and to know exactly what the technician is talking about and avoid technicians from exploiting you due to your ignorance.
The electrical system of car is made up of several physical components which are linked to each other :
A) Physical Components of a Car Electrical System
The main components found in most auto electrical systems include:
i) Battery: Usually a 12 Volt battery having a capacity of about 88Ah (Ampere Hours). The battery is the source of electrical energy in a Car.
i) Battery: Usually a 12 Volt battery having a capacity of about 88Ah (Ampere Hours). The battery is the source of electrical energy in a Car.
ii) Alternator: Alternators with an output of 12 Volts, 33 Amperes are common. The alternator recharges the car battery by converting the rotational kinetic energy of the car t into electrical energy.
iii) Starter Motor: Normally 12V, and approximately 2.7 kilowatts.The starter uses energy from the car battery to switch on the car engine. The starter produces sparks in the engine required to ignite the fuel entering the engine cylinders.
iv)Lighting and Connection Cables - HEADLIGHTS, -BRAKE LIGHTS, SIDE LIGHTS etc.
Read Previous Car Maintenance Articles at:
- Car Purchase and Maintenance Guide
- How to maintain the fuel filtration system of a car
- Top 10 Great Cars in the World
Read Previous Car Maintenance Articles at:
- Car Purchase and Maintenance Guide
- How to maintain the fuel filtration system of a car
- Top 10 Great Cars in the World
B) Maintenance (Servicing) of the Electrical System of Car
The following key points summarize how to maintain the electric system of car.
- Working with the electrical system of an automobile requires knowledge and skills in electricity.
- Never patch electrical circuits.
- Never replace a blown fuse with a higher capacity fuse. It could cause a fire.
- Never work on components such as the alternator or starter of the car while the engine is running.
- Always disconnect the negative battery terminal before working on the electrical circuit.
- Finally, when you clean the car and use the high pressure sprayer, be careful not to damage the connections on the various electrical cable packages.
- For all forms of welding on your car, some precuations are necessary to avoid hazards:
i) Remove the car battery and place it far from the welding area or zone. The sparks from welding can cause an explosion.
ii) Disconnect the alternator before welding.
CAR SAFETY AND SECURITY TIPS
- Working with the electrical system of an automobile requires knowledge and skills in electricity.
- Never patch electrical circuits.
- Never replace a blown fuse with a higher capacity fuse. It could cause a fire.
- Never work on components such as the alternator or starter of the car while the engine is running.
- Always disconnect the negative battery terminal before working on the electrical circuit.
- Finally, when you clean the car and use the high pressure sprayer, be careful not to damage the connections on the various electrical cable packages.
- For all forms of welding on your car, some precuations are necessary to avoid hazards:
i) Remove the car battery and place it far from the welding area or zone. The sparks from welding can cause an explosion.
ii) Disconnect the alternator before welding.
CAR SAFETY AND SECURITY TIPS