Glossary Of Terms And Symbols - Toyota Camry 1999 Electrical Troubleshooting Manual

E GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND SYMBOLS
BATTERY
CAPACITOR (Condenser)
CIGARETTE LIGHTER
CIRCUIT BREAKER
DIODE
DIODE, ZENER
PHOTODIODE
DISTRIBUTOR, IIA
FUSE
FUSIBLE LINK FUSIBLE LINK
(for Medium Current Fuse)
(for High Current Fuse or
Fusible Link)
Stores chemical energy and
converts it into electrical energy.
Provides DC current for the auto's
various electrical circuits.
A small holding unit for temporary
storage of electrical voltage.
An electric resistance heating
element.
Basically a reusable fuse, a circuit
breaker will heat and open if too
much current flows through it.
Some units automatically reset when
cool, others must be manually reset.
A semiconductor which allows
current flow in only one direction.
A diode which allows current flow in one
direction but blocks reverse flow only up
to a specific voltage. Above that potential,
it passes the excess voltage. This acts as
a simple voltage regulator.
The photodiode is a semiconductor
which controls the current flow
according to the amount of light.
Channels high–voltage current from
the ignition coil to the individual
spark plugs.
A thin metal strip which burns through
when too much current flows through it,
thereby stopping current flow and
protecting a circuit from damage.
A heavy–gauge wire placed in high
amperage circuits which burns through on
overloads, thereby protecting the circuit.
The numbers indicate the crosssection
surface area of the wires.
GROUND
The point at which wiring attaches to
the Body, thereby providing a return
path for an electrical circuit; without a
ground, current cannot flow.
HEADLIGHTS
Current flow causes a headlight
1. SINGLE
filament to heat up and emit light. A
FILAMENT
headlight may have either a single
(1) filament or a double (2) filament
2. DOUBLE
FILAMENT
HORN
An electric device which sounds a
loud audible signal.
IGNITION COIL
Converts low–voltage DC current
into high–voltage ignition current for
firing the spark plugs.
LIGHT
Current flow through a filament
causes the filament to heat up and
emit light.
LED (LIGHT EMITTING DIODE)
Upon current flow, these diodes emit
light without producing the heat of a
comparable light.
METER, ANALOG
Current flow activates a magnetic
coil which causes a needle to move,
thereby providing a relative display
against a background calibration.
METER, DIGITAL
Current flow activates one or many
LED's, LCD's, or fluorescent
FUEL
displays, which provide a relative or
digital display.
MOTOR
A power unit which converts
electrical energy into mechanical
M
energy, especially rotary motion.