Arctic Cat Panther 1974 Manual page 92

THEORY OF OPERATION
constantly open, Fig. IV-12, thereby allowing
current to flow to the spark plug for ignition.
Conversely, if the throttle cable is not tensioned
properly at the carburetor-mounted throttle arm,
the switch is closed, forcing the induced current in
the exciting coil to flow to ground. And
consequently the engine will not start because
there is no high voltage current to the spark plug.
II
Note: To make sure the throttle safety switch
operates properly, proper adjustment is
critical (see Section III, Fuel System, Throttle
Adjustment, page 111-16).
Magneto Alternator System
The function of the magneto alternator system is
to produce the electrical current required by the
headlight, taillights and brakelights. Accessories,
such as a speedometer, tachometer, heat gauges
and an electric starter, also draw upon the output
of magneto alternator for proper operation. To
produce and control the current necessary for the
lighting system, a number of electrical components
are used in conjunction with each other.
1. FLYWHEEL-MOUNTED PERMANENT
MAGNETS - Provide a moving magnetic field
when the flywheel is rotating around the
coils.
2. LIGHTING COILS - Mounted on the base
plate, just above the ignition system exciting
coil, is the 23 watt lighting coil. Mounted
opposite the 23 watt lighting coil is the large
100 watt lighting coil. The four leads of the
coils are connected in parallel at the engine
connector by two common end pieces. To
make sure there will be maximum output, the
yellow wire having a black and green tracer
must be connected with the green wire having
a black tracer. Additionally, the solid green
wire must be connected with the yellow wire.
As stated in the previous paragraph, electrical
current is required to operate the headlight,
taillights, brakelights and accessories that require
output from the lighting coils. To accomplish this,
current is induced in the two lighting coils by the
rotation of the four magnets, Fig. IV-13. Since the
magnets are alternately mounted and, also,
alternately pass the two lighting coils, the magnetic
forces change direction of travel. Because the
IV-8
magnetic forces travel from north to south
(maximum positive to maximum negative), the
direction of flow changes every 90 degrees of
flywheel rotation. The lighting system uses every
positive and negative current impulse to supply
electricity to the lighting system. And why don't
the lights blink, being that both the positive and
negative electrical impulses are used? For every
mainshaft rotation, four electrical impulses take
place. When the engine is at idle (2400 RPM), the
output of the lighting coils is 9600 electrical
impulses per minute. Therefore, the electrical
impulses take place so fast that the decrease in
output, which occurs just after maximum positive
and just before maximum negative, cannot be
detected.
Fig.IV·13
After current is induced in the two lighting coils,
the current flows to the lights and other accessories
by way of wiring harnesses and switches, Fig.
IV-13. Current flow to the headlight, taillights and
brakelights will occur only when the light switch is
ON (closed circuit). Conversely, if the light switch
is OFF (open circuit), the induced current in the
lighting coils is routed through the voltage
regulator and to ground, Fig. IV-13. Therefore., the
voltage regulator shunts of any unwanted or excess
voltage that is not used by the lighting system.
Another component that is a part of the lighting
system is the headlight dimmer switch. When the
light switch is ON (closed circuit), current flows to
the dimmer switch. By moving the switch to high
beam, the low . beam circuit is opened, thereby,
diverting current to the headlight high beam
filament, Fig. IV-13. The exact opposite takes
place when the dimmer switch is moved to low
beam: the high beam circuit is opened, thereby,
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