Engine Cranking Role And Importance
Engine cranking or engine starting is an engine rotation initiation process for its operational
cycle
[1]
. In short, an engine cannot start without first going through engine cranking.
Engine cranking requires an exterior force such as a starter (electric, pneumatic or
hydraulic). Gasoline and small diesel engines typically use battery energized electric
starter
[2]
. Figure 1.0 shows the parts of an electric starter.
Figure 1.0 : Parts of An Electric Starter
Hioki Memory HiCorder
MR8880-20 For
Engine Cranking Test
Application Note
An energized starter provides torque to the engine flywheel through the drive pinion of
the turning armature
[3]
. The rotating flywheel drives the crankshaft rotation of the engine.
Piston movement for combustion process starts when the crankshaft rotation hits a
certain threshold. The engine cranking process completes after the engine starts running
sustainably with stabilized voltage.
A slow piston movement (slow cranking) results in compression leak by piston rings; leading
to insufficient compression pressure and heat for proper fuel ignition. Improper fuel ignition
causes engine start failure or starts with incomplete combustion which equals to excessive
emission.
Hioki HiCorder MR8880-20 for Engine Cranking Test
Engine cranking time is useful for predicting potential engine issues. Hioki HiCorder
MR8880-20, a high-speed waveform monitoring and recording device, records the battery
voltage response with time during engine cranking.
■ Basic specifications (Accuracy guaranteed for 1 year, Post-adjustment accuracy guaranteed for 1 year)
Number of
channels
4 analog channels + 8 logic channels (standard)
Note: Isolated analog channels, isolated input and frame, logic has common GND
Measurement ranges
(10 div full-scale)
4 channels of voltage measurement; mode switchable between instantaneous waveform
or RMS value, 10 mV to 100 V/div, 13 ranges, resolution: 1/640 of range
RMS value mode: 30 Hz to 10 kHz, Crest factor: 2
Max. rated voltage
Between terminals: 600 VAC/DC
Between terminal to earth: 600 VAC, DC CAT III; 300 VAC, DC CAT IV
Frequency
characteristics
DC to 100 kHz (±3dB)
Measurement
functions
High-speed function (high speed recording)
Real-time function (actual time recording)
Time axis
(High-speed function)
100 µs to 100 ms/div, 10 ranges, Sampling period: 1/100 of range
Recording intervals
(Real-time function)
100 µs to 1 minute, 19 selections (simultaneous sampling in all channels)
Memory capacity
14-bits × 1M-words/ch (1 word = 2 bytes)
Removable storage
CF card slot ×1 (Up to 2 GB), USB 2.0 memory ×1
Display
5.7-inch VGA-TFT color LCD (640 × 480 dots)
Interfaces
USB: USB 2.0 mini-B receptacle × 1, Printer: Printer unit MR9000
Recording paper
[Printer unit is optional] 112 mm (4.41 in) × 18 m (59.06 ft), thermal paper roll,
Recording speed : 10 mm (0.39 in)/sec
Functions
Auto save, Real-time printing, Calculation, Comment printing, Scaling, Cursor
measurement, Data protection, Auto setup, Backup, Schedule, Monitor, X-Y
Synthesis
Power supply
AC Adapter Z1002: 100 to 240 VAC (50/60 Hz)
Battery Pack Z1000 (Ni-MH), Continuous operating time 3 hours (with back-light ON)
LR6 (AA) alkaline battery × 8, Continuous operating time 40 minutes, (with back-
light ON, cannot be used with the Printer Unit)
DC power supply: 10 to 28 VDC (cable available by special order)
Dimensions and mass
(with the Battery
pack installed)
205 mm (8.07 in) W × 199 mm (7.83 in) H × 67 mm (2.64 in) D, 1.66 kg (58.6 oz)
When printer is combined - with main unit: 303 mm (11.93 in) W × 199 mm (7.83 in)
H × 67 mm (2.64 in) D, 2.16 kg (76.2 oz)
Hioki Memory HiCorder MR8880-20