Here's a detailed explanation of what the coil does in a gas lawnmower:
1. Generation of High Voltage:
- The ignition coil consists of two main components: a primary winding and a secondary winding.
- As the engine of the lawnmower spins, a flywheel (or camshaft) attached to the crankshaft rotates. This spinning motion results in the interruption of the magnetic field created by the primary winding, which is energized when an electrical current flows through it.
- This interruption, or collapse, of the magnetic field induces a high voltage current in the secondary winding of the coil.
2. Ignition Timing:
- The ignition coil works in conjunction with the flywheel or camshaft, depending on the mower's design, to ensure the spark is created at the right moment.
- When the flywheel/camshaft reaches a specific point in its rotation, it breaks the connection in the primary circuit. This triggers the collapse of the magnetic field and the generation of high voltage in the secondary winding.
- The resulting high-voltage current flows to the spark plug through a spark plug wire.
3. Air/Fuel Mixture Ignition:
- The high voltage passing through the spark plug causes a spark to jump across the gap between the spark plug's electrodes.
- This spark ignites the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder of the engine, initiating the combustion process. The expansion of the ignited gases generates the power needed to drive the lawnmower's blades.
In summary, the ignition coil in a gas lawnmower is responsible for generating a high-voltage electrical current that results in the creation of a spark at the spark plug, igniting the air/fuel mixture and initiating the combustion process.
