Basic Electrical

Systems Theory
and Repair
Chapter 29
Page 387

So, Where is Electronics

in a Car

Everywhere
Antilock brakes, engines,
emissions, dash, fuels system,
transmissions, tires, suspension,
windows, safety systems, lighting.
----Well, I could go on and on and
on.

The Basics

Atoms
Positive

Negative

Conductors and
Insulators

Conductors
Conductors
A good conductor must not have more than
four electrons in the outer valence ring of an
atom. Copper is one of the best conductors;
along with aluminum and gold, conductors
have one electron in the outer valence ring.

Insulators
Insulators
A good insulator must have more than four
electrons in the outer valence ring of an
atom. Rubber, glass, and porcelain are the
best insulators with many electrons in the
outer valence ring.

Electrical Flow

Electron Movement

This is the way it real

This is what we are taught!
Negative to Positive
Positive to Negative

Wiring is coated with PVC, a flexible

plastic to insulate the copper wiring.
Color Chart

Circuit Requirements
=

A full circle is provided

Switch

+
Source

12 v

(Battery)

Complete path

Load
_

(light)

Source Battery or voltage supply

Load Electrical components, lights,
radio, etc.
Complete path for electron flow Wir

Protection Devices

Circuit Devices

Controls Devices

Switches for on and

of

Fuses and Circuit Breaker

Protect form Overloads

Fuses and Circuit

Breakers

Other Symbols

Electrical Terms

Voltage- Also called Electromotive Force,

Pressure of electricity or the amount of
force it takes to move electrons. Measured
in volts.
Current- The movement or flow of
electrons, measured in amperes or amps
for short.
Resistance-Anything that impedes or
slows the flow of electrons. Measured in
ohms.

More Electrical Terms

AC Alternating Current (shop

lights and equipment)
DC Direct Current (Auto battery
and most systems)
Auto voltage used is normally
between 12 and 15 volts

Circuit Types
Series
Parallel
Combination

Series Circuit

Series Circuits

Series circuits provide only one path for electron

flow through a circuit.
When one component fails, the remaining
components quit working.
Light
Light

12 v

Light

Parallel Circuit

Parallel Circuits

Parallel circuits provide two or more paths

for electron flow through a circuit.
When one component fails, the remaining
components are not affected.

12 v

Lights

Combination

The simplest type is to use a switch

in the first part of the circuit (series)
and the rest of the circuit is wired in
parallel.

12 v

Lights

Ohms Law
Greg Simon Ohm (1787 1854)
Ohms Law: It takes one volt to push one
ampere of current through one ohm of
resistance.
*Look at page 394 for more.

Ohms Law

E
I

E = Voltage (Electromotive Force)

I = Current (Intensity)
R = Resistance (Ohms)

E = IR
I = E/R
R = E\I

Ohms Law

I=E/R

I R

R=E\I
E = IR
12 = 3 X 4
4 ohms

12 volts

E = IR

I=E/R
3 = 12 / 4

3 amps

R=E/I
4 = 12 / 3

Magnetism
Laws of magnetism:
1. Like poles repel each other.
2. Unlike poles attract each other.
3. The attractive force increases as the
distance between the magnets decreases.
N
N

S N
S

S
S

Magnetic Fields

Magnetism
Magnetic FieldOccurs when a current is flowing through a
conductor.
ElectromagnetsArtificially creating a magnetic field. A coil
of wire with a voltage applied.

Electromagnets

Switch

Battery

Starter
Solenoid or Relay

Electromagnets

Resistors

A Few More Terms

Semiconductors- Can act as both

insulator and conductor.
Diode- an electronic one way check
valve, it allows flow one way but
doesnt allow it to reverse the other
way.
Transistor- electronic relay. Its very
fast, and no moving parts.

Basic Tests

Meters

Analog and Digital

Digital Volt-ohm Meter (DVOM)

or Digital Multimeter (DMM)

Measurements

Voltage Testing

Voltage Check

Testing Voltage After

Switch

Open = wire broke or fried wire

Circuit Test
3
1 = 12 v
2 = 12v
3 = 12v
1
2
2

Continuity Testing

Ohmmeter Test

Diode Check
Diode is a one way street
only. Reversing the
multimeter leads will tell us
if the voltage is allows one
way and is stopped the
opposite way. If it doesnt
do this toss the diode.

.000 one way

and 1. the
other.

Testing Device with

Ohmmeter
with Power Removed
Continu
ity
Should
be .000
if Good
Infinit
y
Shoul
d be
1. if
Bad

Testing Amps
Need to
change red
probe lead
to Amp on
meter

Test Light

Test Light

Using a Jumper Wire

Bypassing Ground

Bypass a Switch with

Jumper Wires

Circuit Defects
Open
Incomplete or broken circuit. The circuits quits
working.
Short
Two wires unintentionally connecting with each other.
Could cause more than one component to operate.

Circuit Defects
Ground
When a positive and negative wire contact
each other. Could cause sparking and
extreme heat due to high current flow. Very
low resistance blows fuses, circuit breakers,
or fusible links.

Circuit Defects
Open Circuits

Circuit Defects
Short Circuits

Circuit Defects
Ground Circuits

Your Job.

Complete chapter Questions 1-15 (review)

and 1-10 (ASE-style). Page 401-402
Write on a separate paper and write out
the complete question and your answer.
( do not write the other answer options).
Complete the chapter worksheet (I will
give it out). You may write on it.
File all items in your note book.
Notebooks will be graded in the future.