Overview of the Marine Ignition System

When operating a marine vessel, it is always important to be well aware of the various systems and components that allow the boat to keep operating smoothly. By better understanding your vessel, you can also be more proactive on ensuring that parts are well maintained and taken care of, extending their service lives to save time and money. The marine ignition system is a critical part of any marine vessel, allowing for the engine to be started for sustained operation. In this blog, we will provide a brief overview of the various main components of the marine ignition system, helping you to have better knowledge of the inner workings of your ship.

When inspecting and maintaining the outboard boat engine, there are typically not many areas that require significant care other than the spark plugs that must be replaced periodically. When an issue arises and a part needs to be replaced, the main groups of replacement parts consist of the power pack or switchbox, stator, ignition coil components, outboard ignition trigger assembly, plug wire components, and spark plugs. Each of these parts are crucial to maintain, as the ignition of the engine requires all components to be fully functional. Additionally, it is also important to always inspect other components such as cables, connections, the ignition switch, and battery components as they too play major parts in the functionality of the system as a whole.

The power pack or switchbox of a marine vessel can be considered the brain of the ignition system, and they serve to provide voltage to the motor coils, allowing for each spark plug to ignite the system. Furthermore, switchbox and power pack systems are typically powered through A/C voltage, and this current is then converted to D/C voltage for firing spark plugs. To receive power, magnets placed within the flywheel generate volts of electricity within two or more coils called charge coils, and these coils are attached to the power pack for the transfer of current. Generally, energy is stored within a capacitor, and it ignites each spark plug once it receives a signal from flywheel components or coils.

The stator is the generator of the marine ignition system, providing the system the energy it needs in order to operate. Within the stator, a number of charge coils are present for the generation of electricity, and this current is supplied to both the battery through the regulator or rectifier, and to the ignition system. The rectifier serves as a part of the whole electrical ignition engine, and the outboard stator provides high RPM for increased DC charge output. Stators are typically OEM components, often designed to be used alongside a specific engine model or family. As more electronics are implemented on marine vessels, the size of the stator has increased to provide sufficient power.

The ignition coils themselves serve to provide the electrical pulse needed for the spark plugs to ignite fuel, and their power is provided by the switchbox. When procuring ignition coil components, one should always keep in mind that ignition coils are specific to the family of engines present on the marine vessel. Furthermore, maintenance of ignition coil components will often come in the form of checking spark plugs and spark plug wires for their plug wire connections as the coils themselves often do not need any maintenance.

When it comes time to begin sourcing the marine system ignition components that you need to carry out your operations, look no further than Aviation Purchasing Platform. Owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, Aviation Purchasing Platform is a premier online distributor of aircraft parts and Marine components for both the civil and defense industries. Get started on the purchasing process now and receive a personalized quote in 15 minutes or less when you submit an Instant RFQ form through our website! 

1. elvis clinton
2. Posted on October 29, 2020
aviation