This trainer provides students and instructors with the opportunity to demonstrate, investigate, and fault-find a simulation of a typical automotive ignition and charging system. The trainer is designed to allow access to a variety of ignition systems and a charging system, as well as provide an understanding of the overall system layout and configuration. To facilitate the development of techniques in diagnostics and fault-finding skills, the panel includes a range of fault-insertion options to simulate typical real-world system malfunctions.

The optional automotive cloud-based learning resources also offer supporting material in the form of presentations, investigations and assessments to underpin the practical tasks carried out on the panel trainer.

The panel trainer provides a complete simulation of a vehicle ignition system, and incorporates an engine rotation simulator with a crankshaft, connecting rod and piston. Sensors are provided for crankshaft/camshaft position, profile ignition pickup and cylinder identification. LEDs are used to simulate spark plugs and a special timing light is also provided.

The electronic ignition system represented on the panel trainer is a two-coil 'wasted spark' type, with a single micro-controller providing the operating facilities of the Ignition Control Module (ICM) and Engine Control Module (ECM), as found on modern vehicles.

Typical practical tasks include:

• Identify ignition system components and types.
• Identify and investigate the operation of spark plugs.
• Identify and investigate contact breaker ignition systems.
• Diagnose faults in contact breaker ignition systems.
• Identify and investigate electronic ignition systems.
• Diagnose faults in electronic ignition systems.
• Identify starting and charging system components and types.