What is a car ignition coil
The ignition coil of a car is a key component in the car ignition system.
The ignition coil of a car is mainly responsible for converting the low voltage (usually 12 volts) provided by the vehicle battery into a high voltage (usually tens of thousands of volts) to generate a spark to ignite the fuel mixture in the engine cylinders. The ignition coil operates based on the principle of electromagnetic induction, converting low-voltage electricity into high-voltage electricity to ensure the normal operation and smooth combustion of the engine . The ignition coil of a car is mainly composed of the ignition coil and the switch device.
The reason why the ignition coil can convert the low-voltage electricity on the vehicle into high voltage is that it has the same form as a common transformer, and the turns ratio of the primary coil to the secondary coil is large. However, the working mode of the ignition coil is different from that of a common transformer. A common transformer operates continuously, while the ignition coil operates intermittently. It repeatedly stores and releases energy at different frequencies according to the different speeds of the engine.
When the primary coil is connected to the power supply, a strong magnetic field is generated around it as the current increases, and the iron core stores the magnetic field energy. When the switch device disconnects the primary coil circuit, the magnetic field of the primary coil rapidly decays, and a very high voltage will be induced in the secondary coil. The faster the magnetic field of the primary coil disappears, the greater the current at the moment of current disconnection, and the larger the turns ratio of the two coils, the higher the voltage induced by the secondary coil.
A damaged ignition coil can lead to typical symptoms such as cylinder misfire, reduced power and increased fuel consumption in the engine , which are specifically manifested as follows:
Abnormal operation of the engine
Youdaoplaceholder0 The body shakes significantly at idle or low speed : especially when waiting at red lights or driving at low speed, the steering wheel and seats vibrate strongly, similar to "riding a rocking car".
Youdaoplaceholder0 Weak acceleration or jerking : Slow acceleration when the accelerator is pressed hard, insufficient power when climbing slopes or fully loaded, and more obvious when the vehicle is cold.
Youdaoplaceholder0 Abnormal noise from the exhaust pipe or emitting black smoke : incomplete combustion causes a "putt-putt" sound from the exhaust pipe, and the exhaust gas may be accompanied by black smoke.
Performance and warning issues
Abnormal increase in fuel consumption : Due to the reduced combustion efficiency, the vehicle requires more fuel to maintain power, and the fuel consumption per 100 kilometers may increase significantly.
The engine fault light comes on : the ECU will trigger the warning light when it detects a misfire (such as fault codes P0300-P0304).
Youdaoplaceholder0 difficulty in starting or stalling : In severe cases, insufficient ignition energy leads to failed starting or sudden stalling while driving.
The consequences of long-term neglect
If the fault is ignored, it may cause the three-way catalytic converter to overheat and get damaged, to increase carbon deposits, and even lead to the burning of the ignition coil, resulting in a significant increase in maintenance costs.
There are usually two sets of coils in an ignition coil, the primary coil and the secondary coil. The primary coil uses relatively thick enameled wire, usually with enameled wire of about 0.5 to 1 millimeter wound around 200 to 500 turns. The secondary coil uses thinner enameled wire, usually with enameled wire of about 0.1 millimeters, wound around 15,000 to 25,000 turns. One end of the primary coil is connected to the low-voltage power supply (+) on the vehicle, and the other end is connected to the switch device (circuit breaker). One end of the secondary coil is connected to the primary coil, and the other end is connected to the output terminal of the high-voltage line to output high-voltage electricity.
The reason why the ignition coil can convert the low-voltage electricity on the vehicle into high voltage is that it has the same form as a common transformer, and the turns ratio of the primary coil is larger than that of the secondary coil. However, the working mode of the ignition coil is different from that of a common transformer. The working frequency of a common transformer is a fixed 50Hz, also known as a power frequency transformer, while the ignition coil operates in a pulse form and can be regarded as a pulse transformer. It repeatedly stores and releases energy at different frequencies according to the different speeds of the engine.
When the primary coil is connected to the power supply, a strong magnetic field is generated around it as the current increases, and the iron core stores the magnetic field energy. When the switch device disconnects the primary coil circuit, the magnetic field of the primary coil rapidly decays, and a very high voltage will be induced in the secondary coil. The faster the magnetic field of the primary coil disappears, the greater the current at the moment of current disconnection, and the larger the turns ratio of the two coils, the higher the voltage induced by the secondary coil.
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