Aircraft Magnetos 101

Aircraft magnetos are a crucial component of an aircraft's ignition system. They generate the high voltage needed to create a spark that ignites the fuel in the engine.

Magnetos are essentially electromagnetic generators that use a rotating magnet to produce a high voltage. This voltage is then used to create a spark in the engine's cylinders.

The most common type of mag is the dual mag setup, which uses two magnetos to provide redundancy in case one fails. This is a common setup in many aircraft.

In a dual mag setup, each mag is connected to a separate ignition coil and spark plug, ensuring that the engine will continue to run even if one mag fails.

Check this out: How Do Magnetos Work

Aircraft magnetos are self-contained electrical generators that use permanent magnets to produce a high voltage, alternating current.

They don't need any external electrical source to function, which is why they're widely used in small engines like chainsaws and lawnmowers that don't have an electrical supply.

Magnetos can produce electricity that reaches up to 20,000 to 30,000 volts.

The spinning magnets in an aircraft magneto generate this high voltage, making them reliable in applications where power is crucial.

A distributor in the magneto transfers the electricity to the spark plug, which ignites the fuel-air mixture inside the engine.

A magneto generates a high voltage pulse of up to 20,000 volts by using a pair of strong permanent magnets and a U-shaped iron bar, known as the armature. This high voltage pulse is what creates the spark required by the spark plugs to ignite the fuel inside a piston.

The magnetic field induced in the armature is amplified by a secondary coil with approximately 20,000 turns of thick wire. This coil is wrapped around the other side of the armature, and it's what takes the initial voltage of about 200 volts and amplifies it to the desired level.

A breaker point switch breaks the flow of current through the primary coil, causing a voltage spike. This switch is controlled by a cam connected to the crankshaft, which opens and closes the breaker points as needed.

The primary winding of the magneto is made of heavy copper, while the secondary winding is made of a finer wire with an exponentially high number of turns. This difference in wire material and turns is what allows the secondary winding to amplify the voltage to the desired level.

Here's a breakdown of the key components of a magneto:

A magneto is essentially a device that generates a high voltage pulse to create the spark required by spark plugs to ignite fuel inside a piston. It uses a strong magnet spinning inside a coil to produce this voltage.

The magneto has a few key components: an armature, a primary coil, a secondary coil, breaker points, and a capacitor. The armature is a U-shaped iron bar, and the primary and secondary coils are made of thick wire wrapped around it.

The primary coil has approximately 200 turns of wire, while the secondary coil has around 20,000 turns. The breaker points and capacitor work together to ensure a faster and more predictable collapse of the magnetic field when the breaker points make contact.

The magnetic field induced in the armature reaches its maximum capacity, causing a switch to break the flow of current through the primary coil and creating a voltage spike of about 200 volts. This voltage is then amplified by the secondary coil to around 20,000 volts.

Here's a breakdown of the magneto's components:

The timing of the magneto is controlled by a cam connected to the crankshaft, which opens and closes the breaker points as needed.

The Slick Magneto is a popular choice among aircraft owners due to its smaller and lighter design, making it easy to install.

This design feature also allows for the removal of magneto filters, reducing noise and increasing overall performance.

Slick Magnetos have been manufactured by Champion Aerospace since the 1990s, providing a proven track record of reliability.

One of the key advantages of the Slick Magneto is its predictable service schedule, thanks to balanced wear and tear on its parts.

Maintenance is also relatively easy with the Slick Magneto, thanks to the use of new parts during servicing.

There are different types of aircraft magnetos, each with its unique characteristics. The Bendix Single Magnetos, or "Bendix Mag", is one such type manufactured by Teledyne Continental Motors since 1947.

The Bendix Mag has a compact and lightweight design that produces high output. It has multiple variations available for different aircraft applications.

The Bendix Mag has proven its reliability over the decades, making it a popular choice in aviation.

Explore further: What Are Magnetos

Bendix Dual magnetos are a type of aircraft magneto that offers a significant reduction in weight and space used compared to traditional magnetos.

They are contained in a single casing and are operated by a single magnet and engine drive, making maintenance more regular.

The dual magneto design is produced by Teledyne Continental Motors, although their production line ended in October 2010.

Two series of the dual magnetos were released: the D2000 and D3000, which differed in the housing design.

Dual magnetos are often used in pairs, with one driving the top spark plugs and the other the bottom plugs on the engine.

The Bendix Single Magneto is a reliable choice for aircraft applications, having been in production since 1947. It's manufactured by Teledyne Continental Motors, the same company behind the Bendix Mag.

The Bendix Mag has a compact and lightweight design, making it a great option for aircraft with limited space. This design also contributes to its high output.

It's available in multiple variations to suit different aircraft needs.