This is How the Diesel Car Electrical System Works

Speaking of diesel cars, they certainly have an electrical system that is different from gasoline cars. The electrical system of diesel cars is a series of electrical energy needed to perform various functions in cars with diesel engines.

If segmented, diesel cars consist of two types: conventional and common rail. What are the differences and how do they work? To clarify, let's look at the following review about the electricity in diesel cars.

Conventional Electrical System

The electrical system of conventional diesel cars consists of three systems: the ignition system, the starter system, and the charging system. Overall, these three systems require electrical energy to start the car's engine.

1. Ignition System

The ignition system in diesel cars is an electrical circuit that uses the principle of converting electrical energy into fire. This system is used to ignite gas in the combustion chamber to create combustion.

The principle of operation is to throw a number of electrons across an air gap. This large volume leap will create a spark.

2. Starter System

The starter system is the mechanism that triggers the first combustion of the engine by rotating the crankshaft. This system converts electrical energy into motion energy through a series of electromagnetic processes.

In other words, when the start button is pressed, electrical energy will move the flywheel and start the engine.

3. Charging System

This system uses power from the battery to ensure the electrical cycle in the car. This system relies on the electrical energy in the battery and performs charging as a backup energy source when the car's engine is running. This system uses the principle of converting motion energy into electrical energy through electromagnetic force.

Common Rail Electricity

Common rail is an electrical system in diesel engines that has a similar pattern to EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) in gasoline cars. The only difference is the hardware components and the fuel used.

This means that this system uses an electrical mechanism to supply diesel from the tank into the combustion chamber in an ideal amount. The principle of operation of common rail is actually the same as conventional diesel. The difference lies in the pattern of diesel pressure.

In conventional diesel engines, the diesel pressure is increased only when the ignition timing is reached. The diesel pressure in diesel engines also occurs at certain intervals.

Meanwhile, in common rail diesel engines, the diesel pressure is increased constantly while the engine is running. Thus, the pressure will always be high, and the timing is controlled by the opening of the injector from the solenoid. This leads to continuous combustion in the combustion chamber.

The electrical scheme of the common rail system is divided into three components, each with its own role. There are sensor components that function to detect the volume of diesel needed, regulate air temperature, engine temperature, engine RPM, and Top dead center.

Then there is the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that acts as the controller; this component calculates all the data sent by the sensors. This data will be transferred to the injector, which acts as the executor of the ECU's commands.

This injector has a solenoid that will open when there is an electric current. When the solenoid opens, diesel can enter the combustion chamber.

From the explanation above, there are actually two striking differences, namely regarding fuel consumption. For conventional diesel cars, the process of delivering fuel to the combustion chamber can still be considered mechanical.

The fuel control in diesel engines relies on the movement of a connecting iron cable from the gas pedal. Thus, the more the gas pedal is pressed, the more fuel is consumed.

In contrast, in the common rail system, everything is connected to the ECU system to determine the amount of fuel needed. This means that common rail diesel cars can be considered more economical, but because the system uses a computer, the maintenance and repair costs will certainly be higher.