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When the automotive industry was in its infancy, it used electricity
only to ignite the fuel inside the engine. By the late 1920's, the
electric starter replaced the hand crank, electric headlights made
acetylene lamps obsolete and the braying of the electric horn drowned
out the squeak of the hand-squeezed air horn. Today, an automobile
requires an elaborate electrical system of circuits just to produce,
store, and distribute all the electricity it requires simply for
everyday operation.
The first major component in the electrical system is the battery.
The battery is used to store power for starting, and for running
auxiliary devices such as clocks, radios and alarms when the engine
is off. The next major component is the starter motor, which is used
to start the engine. The third component is a charging device powered
by the engine, known as the alternator. It powers the electrical
system when the car is running, and restores the charge within the
battery. With these basic components, the car maintains its supply of
electricity. A device called the voltage regulator keeps the power
level stabilized, and the fuse box keeps minor problems from becoming
major ones.
Many different auxiliary electrical devices are used in modern cars,
such as: radios, cellular phones, rear window defrosters and electric
door locks, as well as a vast array of motors powering everything
from the moonroof on down.
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