Electrical equipment — general information (Mercedes-Benz E-Class W210)

The battery, generator and starter ensure the engine starts, each of them performs its own function and is connected to the others. So, without the battery, the starter cannot be turned on, without the starter, the engine and generator will not start. Without the generator, it is impossible to recharge the battery.

For an electric current to pass, a closed circuit is required. It consists of a source (for example, a battery), consumers (lamps, starter) and wires that connect the current source and consumers.

Voltage is a potential difference, measured in volts (V).

Current strength characterizes the magnitude of the electric charge transferred through the cross-section of a conductor per unit of time, measured in amperes (A).

Power is the product of voltage and current, which shows what electrical work the current source performs in relation to the consumer, measured in watts (W).

The resistance that an electrical circuit (conductor) provides to the electric charges moving in it. This is the ratio of the voltage applied to the resistance to the current flowing through the resistance, the unit of measurement is Ohm.

Wire. Wire thickness (cross-sectional area) depends on the consumer. For a control lamp, a cross-section of 0.5 mm² is sufficient, for a starter, a wire with a cross-section of 16 mm² is required. A wire that is too thin can overheat, resulting in a voltage drop. In this case, for example, 10 or even 9.5 V reaches the headlights instead of 12 V. As a result, the headlights become dim.