This is How a Car Starter Works
The presence of a car starter is useful for starting or igniting the engine in a vehicle. So how does a car starter actually work? Check out the following review.
1. When the Ignition Key is in the START Position
When you insert the ignition key into the starter bendix in the start position, terminal 50 will automatically supply electrical current.
The flow of electrical current comes from the battery directed to the pull-in coil and hold-in coil. Then, from the pull-in coil, electrical current will be sent to the field coil and armature coil through terminal C.
Thus, the engine will rotate at a slow speed. At the same time, the hold-in coil and pull-in coil in the car starter's operation will generate a magnetic field due to the flowing electrical current.
This causes the pinion gear to be pushed to the left due to the movement of the ring gear. Meanwhile, the slow rotation of the engine makes the gear engagement smooth.
Read also: 4 Ways to Overcome a Car That Can't Be Started
2. When the Pinion Gear is Engaged with the Ring Gear
When the pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear, the contact plate will start to automatically close the main switch.
Solenoid and the spiral groove will also push the pinion gear when it is fully engaged with the ring gear. This condition causes the contact plate touched by the end of the plunger to connect terminal 30 and terminal C.
With this connection, the electrical current can flow to the engine more significantly, causing the engine to rotate more powerfully as well. The spiral groove created can strengthen the bond between the pinion gear and the ring gear.
This operation of the car starter makes the voltage at both ends of the pull-in coil equal and causes the current not to flow.
This is because the plunger is held by the magnetic force generated by the hold-in coil. When the engine starts, the ring gear can trigger the armature through the pinion gear.
3. When the Ignition Key is Back to the ON Position
When the key returns to the ON position from the START position, the voltage supplied to terminal 50 will automatically be cut off. The main switch remains closed, but some current flowing from terminal C to the hold-in coil through the pull-in coil will continue.
This operation of the car starter will later generate a magnetic field and pull the plunger. Owning a four-wheeled vehicle is not just for mobility. You also need to understand how each of its components works, especially the car starter.
Therefore, it is advisable to understand how the car starter works as mentioned above to know when a malfunction occurs in the future.
Read also: Check Your Vehicle at the Car Electrical Workshop, What is Checked?
