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Fundamentals of magnetism
Effects of electric current
There are four effects of electricity that a flow of current will produce:
1. Heating effect: The friction created by the movement of the electrons causes a generation of
heat in the material known as resistive heating. The resistive heating is made use of in elements
of electric stoves etc.
Figure
← 2. Lighting effect: By passing of an electric current through thin wires of metal with a high melting point (i. e.
wolfram, tungsten) those wires heat up so strongly that they begin to glow. In this state they serve
as a source of light. The higher the temperature, the greater the light yields. In bulbs the wires are
placed in a vacuum or in a protective gas. So the wire cannot oxidise. A current flow trough gas can
also be used to produce light as a result of the collisions between the charged gas particles
(fluorescent tubes)
Figure
← 3. Chemical effect: The passage of a current can split up the molecules in liquids and solids, a
process known as electrolysis. This forms the basis to produce an e.m.f. (electromotive force or
voltage) by a battery.
Figure
← 4. Magnetic effect: The current flow in a conductor or coil sets a magnetic field flux or
force around it which is more pronounced when an iron core is present. The strength of
that force (symbol: F) depends upon the value of the current and the number of turns on
the coil/winding.
← F = ampere-turns (A.T.)
Figure
Magnetism is, like electricity as well, still a mystery. We know many laws governing its behaviour and have applied it in
the automotive field but no one knows what magnetism really is.
The effects of magnetism were first discovered when it was found that pieces of iron core and also other pieces of iron
on several places of the earth attract each other.
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In the automotive needs of magnetism there are used permanent magnets as well as electromagnets , depending
what we do want to reach with that different types of magnets.
Not magnetised iron bar Magnetised iron bar
Magnetism
Magnetism we do find in nature mostly as permanent magnets. Magnets attract iron filings (and nickel & cobalt). In the
vicinity of the magnet there is a magnetic field with a definite direction, which is strongest at the ends of the magnet.
See below the field lines of permanent magnet bar:
Field lines of a bar magnet
If a bar magnet is positioned on a pointed pivot so that it can move freely, it aligns it self in a north-south direction. The
pole-pointing north (of the geographical pole of the earth) is the North Pole of the magnet; the opposite is the South
Pole.
The field lines are imaginary plots, which indicate the direction of the magnetic force. In the space surrounding it (air or
non-magnetic material) they run from the north to the South Pole. Inside the magnet, they run from the South Pole to
the North Pole. The field lines are therefore closed (continuous).
If a magnet gets divided or broken, in every part will be obtained a north and a South Pole .
Field lines at unlike poles Field lines
at like poles
Electromagnetism
If trough a conductor a current flows then it is surrounded by a magnetic field in the form of concentric circles.
Magnetic field of a conductor with current flowing through it
If a conductor is wound into a coil , the magnetic field lines are
concentrated together inside this coil. And there inside the field lines of
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the individual turn of the coil are added together.
If a conductor is formed into a loop the lines of force on the outside of the loop spread out into space.
Magnetic field around a loop
Lines on the inside of the loop are confined and crowded together. This increases the
density of lines of force in that area and a much greater effect is produced with the
same amount of current.
The total number of coil field lines refers to the magnetic force depending on the current intensity and the
number of windings. That means, too, the same magnetic effect can be reached by
← a low current strength and a large number of windings or by
← a high current strength and a small number of windings.
By increasing the number of loops, the magnetic field will be greatly increased.
By winding the loops or a coil on a soft iron core, the field is further intensified. That means the magnetism of
this electromagnet increases. On that way there is a possibility to build different electromagnets by using
different strength of the magnetic fields.
Magnetic field around a coil
Strengthened magnetic field of a coil wound around a core of soft iron
When several more current-carrying conductors are placed side by side, the lines of magnetic force join and
surround all of the conductors.
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This kind of magnetic pattern is obtained i.e. in coils of the solenoid of starter motors, of the ignition coil etc.
Magnetic conductivity
The conductivity of air for the lines of force is defined by Kelvin . 'It is the ease
with which lines of force may be established in any medium as compared with a
vacuum '.
When a soft iron core is inserted in a coil to form a true electromagnet, the lines
of force will be increased several hundred times. That means there are more
lines of force created. Field coils in starter motors, regulator-windings on iron-
cores and ignition coils are using all the same principle.
Current-carrying conductors placed side by side
Solenoid
A solenoid is a tubular coil of wire. It is designed to produce a magnetic field. Mostly the solenoid includes an
iron core that is free to move in the tubular coil. The movement of such kind of an iron core is used to operate
in the case of mechanical work i.e. as a switch. If a solenoid is used to close/open the contact points of an
electrical switch then is it called an electromagnetic switch.
NOTE: The South Pole of the iron core is adjacent to the North Pole of the coil. The polarity of a movable iron
core is induced by the lines of force from the coil. The poles of the coil and the core are in opposite polarity
and so there is an attraction that draws the movable core into the centre of the coil whenever current flows
through the coil .
Function of electromagnetic components
Kinds and function of relays
Now let us follow up three different kinds of relays:
The main parts of a relay are the winding , the iron core , the contact points and the terminals .
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1. Normally open relay
As you can see in the sketch below the contact points of this relay are open as long as the electromagnet is not
energized.
Figure
How works such kind of a relay?
Between the terminal numbers '85' and '86' there is placed the electromagnet (winding & soft iron core). This part of the
relay we may name as steering circuit. That means, if we connect one of these terminals to the ground and the other
one to the positive a current flow through the winding and build up a magnetic field. The strength of the built up
magnetic field develops higher by the soft iron core and is in the end strong enough to pull the movable arm with one
contact point downwards by making contact with the other contact point. This is possible because the magnetic power
is now stronger as the mechanical power of the spring what holds the movable arm normally in the top. When the
contact points are closed the main circuit is closed as well.
Now the current from the side of the terminal '30' flows over the contact points to the terminal '87' and from there to the
connected consumer.
← Note : if there is not a current flow through the steering circuit and the contact points are not closed
anymore then the main circuit opens again and so the connected consumer is switched off .
2. Normally closed relay
The contact points of the relay are closed as long as the electromagnet isn't energized.
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Figure
As you can see in the sketch above by the situation of closed contact points the so named main circuit of the relay
between the terminals '30' and '87' is closed as well. That means when the electromagnet of this kind of relay isn't
energised the consumer connected to the terminal '87' works.
First by energising of the electromagnet (steering circuit) and so pulling down the movable arm the main circuit get
switched off and the consumer doesn't work anymore.
3. Change over relay
By using this third type of relay there is always one contact point ('87' or '88') in closed position with the terminal '30'. By
the example of the sketch below the contact point of the terminal '30' is in connection with the upper contact '88' as long
as the steering circuit isn't energised. If the electromagnet is switched on the connection changes over to make
contact between '30' and lower the contact point (in the example of the sketch it is the terminal '87').
Figure
Such a relay can be used for example to connect spot light and fog light over it to change automatically in connection
with the dim light/bright light.
Why there is a need to use relays?
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The reason to use in several cases a relay is given by a higher current flow in some circuits like for double horn,
spotlight, fog light or for the headlight.
But practically you will find always again i. e. headlight circuits in motor vehicles without using a relay.
It is to realise that this depends on the kind of installation for some circuits in a motor vehicle include the use of different
parts like switches.
By using a relay the needed stronger current follows up a shorter way (main circuit over the relay). For the steering
circuit to the relay (by a small amount of the steering current) is it possible to use a much thinner cable. By looking to
the safety aspect shorter ways of the high current flow can be created and about this is to think as well by the
installation through the metal body of a car. The use of original installed switches is a further point by a later installation
of a circuit and this is an economically aspect . For example a change from a single horn to a double horn circuit can
lead to a problem by using the original horn button. If the contact points of that button are to weak/to soft the points can
fast be damaged and on the other hand installing another horn button can be more expensive as the connection of a
relay.
Final remark to the relays:
There is never a possibility to use inside a relay a permanent magnet. It have always to be an electromagnet (by the
use of a winding and an iron core) to ensure the relay can be switched on and/or off.
Further electromagnetic components
Up to now there were handled relays only but we do have much more other electromagnetic components in motor
vehicles in use.
Here let's mention only some of the other electromagnetic components because they get their necessary attention by
following up that several topics in the later modules.
Solenoid:
It is a special kind of a relay used in connection with the starter motor by protection of the ignition lock and as link
between the battery and the starter motor.
Electromagnetic regulator:
This types of electromagnetic components are used for the regulation of the voltage/current output of generators and
alternators to ensure by speeding up of the engine that the voltage/current increases not to high and damages other
electrical components.
The regulator is a very important component to ensure that the recharging process goes on properly and the battery
remains always in good condition
Flasher unit:
The flasher unit is used in the indicator circuit and is responsible to let the switched on indicator lamps (left or right side)
and if necessary all the indicator lamps by the use of the hazard unit flash.
Ignition coil:
Responsible to build up the high-tension voltage needed for developing of strong sparks for the ignition system.
Electric motors:
Such kind of motors, like wiper motor or washer motor are used in cars in different types. They can be built with
permanent magnet (for the stator or the rotor) as well as with electromagnets. In the end the basic principles are always
the same by using the magnetic force to let that different types of electric motors rotate in the case of the necessary
target.
Compiled by Bedilu T. (MSc.) 7
