Electrical system

Every petrol-engine car needs electricity to provide current for the lights and other electrical equipment, and to supply the necessary power for the ignition system.

The ignition system enables the engine to be started and kept running, and sparking plugs form an essential part of this system. They are screwed into the engine at, or near, the top, usually one sparking plug for each cylinder. A four-cylinder engine therefore has four sparking plugs, the six-cylinder engine six plugs and so on. As the name suggests, the purpose of the sparking plug is to make a spark, and this spark is achieved by making the electric current jump a gap between two points (known as electrodes) which are at the extreme end of the plug which is inserted in the cylinder.

The spark ignites the fuel / air mixture in each cylinder, and very rapid burning and expansion results. This process is called “combustion” and it takes place in the “combustion chamber”. It will be explained later just how this combustion fits into the operation of the engine.

Electricity for the igniting process (ignition) is supplied by a dynamo and battery. The currect is then carried to a coil, then to a distributor and finally to the sparking plugs.

5. Answer the questions:

1) Why does a petrol-engine car need electricity?

2) What is the purpose of a sparking plug?

3) What process is called “combustion” ?

4) What are the main parts of the ignition system?

6. Translate the following word-combinations:

Система запалювання, свіча запалювання, паливно-повітряна суміш, камера згорання, процес запалювання

Unit 13 Dynamo and battery

1. Memorize the new words and word-combinations:

1.power station

2.to generate

3.idle

4.alternator

5.to charge

6.extra

7.voltage regulator

8.to “ earth”

електростанція

виробляти

холостий (хід)

замінювач

заряджати

додатковий

регулятор напруги

заземлювати

2. Translate the word- combinations:

to supply with electricity, to be driven by a belt, to generate electricity, to be replaced by, driving at night, to keep well charged, more than is needed, to be partly discharged

3. Read and translate the text.

Dynamo and battery

Our homes and towns are supplied with electricity which is generated in great power stations. In a motor car the dynamo is the power station. It is usually driven by a belt from the front of the engine, and only works when the engine is running. When the engine is idle, no electricity is generated. On some cars the dynamo is replaced by an alternator but its function is the same.

Without electricity the ignition system would not work, the car could not be started, and there would be no lights for parking or for driving the car at night. This is where the battery does a useful job. It provides a means of storing electricity which can be used when the dynamo is not operating and it must be kept well charged.

Under normal circumstances more current is generated than is needed to keep the engine running and to operate the other electrical equipment. This extra current is used to charge the battery so that it will always be in good condition. The charging current is controlled by a voltage regulator: this ensures that less charging current is generated when the battery is well charged, and that an increase in the charging current is provided when the battery becomes partly discharged. This is called “compensated voltage control”.

The dynamo and starter are bolted to the engine, and this automatically “earths” them to the chassis.

4. Answer the questions:

1) What is the function of the dynamo?

2) When does the dynamo work?

3) What is the purpose of the battery?

4) What current is used to charge the battery?

5) How is the charging current controlled?

5. Translate the verbs formed by conversion:

belt-to belt, front-to front, bolt-to bolt, earth-to earth

6. Translate into English:

Електростанція, корисна робота, засоби накопичення електричного струму, за нормальних обставин, підтримувати роботу двигуна, бути у доброму стані, регулятор напруги