Timeline for answer to Automotive electrical system. How does everything work? by James Cameron
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
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11 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2014 at 22:19 | comment | added | James Cameron | Sorry, but I'd like to see this in a new question. In my opinion you can answer this yourself if you consider that a relay is really just a push-button switch with electrical control instead of physical. | |
| Jul 1, 2014 at 18:25 | comment | added | amalik | For anyone, I have moved on from the battery/fuses/ground concepts (Thanks for answers) and moved on to reading about Relays. A quick question. I understand that a relay has a small amount of current applied to it, and through the electromagnet inside, switches another circuit that is more powerful. My question is - is that secondary, more powerful circuit within the relay still powered/limited by the 12v/whatever amps DC car battery, like all the other non-relay powered components connected to the 2 terminals? | |
| Jun 29, 2014 at 21:38 | comment | added | itsproject | @amalik: That where the convention of current flow from positive to negative kicks in. The return path is in this context is the path which the current takes back to the negative battery pole. The current always goes where it meets the least resistance. There must be a closed circuit for anything to work, i.e. the current needs to return to the other pole. Check out en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirchhoff%27s_circuit_laws | |
| Jun 29, 2014 at 20:46 | comment | added | amalik | @itsproject , by return path -- what does that mean? I thought the auto battery is Direct Current, and simply flows 1 way, as opposed to alternating current? | |
| Jun 29, 2014 at 19:53 | comment | added | itsproject | Regarding safety and return current it would in case of any unsafe situation be the dissipation of heat along the return path. Ideally the car's body is an excellent conductor such that there is very little heat. Heat problems usually occur in the wires or in bad connections. | |
| Jun 29, 2014 at 19:23 | comment | added | pjc50 | The chassis ground is mostly convenience (you only have to run a positive wire to things and let the bodywork supply the negative, saving on wire). As you say, things don't function if not connected to ground. | |
| Jun 29, 2014 at 17:31 | comment | added | amalik | I think I was confusing the role of the fuse and the role of the metal chassis in the circuit. | |
| Jun 29, 2014 at 17:20 | vote | accept | amalik | ||
| Jun 29, 2014 at 17:20 | |||||
| Jun 29, 2014 at 17:18 | comment | added | amalik | On point a, If the electricity literally flows from negative to positive, and the negative terminal is connected to the body of the vehicle, that means all the electricity flows from the negative end, to the vehicle body, to the positive wires/fuses and back to the battery? Thus if you disconnect the negative cable off the chassis, nothing electrical in the system will function? If this is correct, I think all that I've been misunderstanding this whole time is the metal of the body is a good path to send the electricity from in terms of safety. | |
| Jun 29, 2014 at 17:17 | comment | added | amalik | Thanks for your answers. I think they really helped me clear up most of my confusion. So as long as every 'load' that is utilizing the sending electricity from the negative cable has a fuse as part of the circuit, the fuse ITSELF knows when there is too much current for that specific load, and blows as a result (Thus, the fuses have Amp ratings). Makes sense to me. | |
| Jun 29, 2014 at 9:23 | history | answered | James Cameron | CC BY-SA 3.0 |