Zündimpuls

Zündimpuls is the electrical signal that initiates ignition in spark-ignition combustion systems. It is the trigger that causes the ignition device—typically the spark plug—to emit a spark and ignite the air–fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.

The Zündimpuls is generated by an ignition system. In traditional spark-ignition engines it was produced by a coil controlled by breaker points or a contactless electronic switch in combination with a distributor. In modern engines, an electronic control unit (ECU) or ignition module governs the timing and duration of the impulse. The impulse activates the primary winding of the ignition coil, which then induces a high-voltage secondary current that creates a spark at the spark plug electrodes. The timing of the impulse is linked to the crankshaft position to occur at a precise crank angle, commonly referred to as the ignition timing (Zündzeitpunkt). The duration of the spark is short; the resulting spark lasts only a few tens to hundreds of microseconds.

The Zündimpuls is critical for engine performance and emissions. Accurate timing improves power, fuel efficiency, and smooth running, while incorrect timing can cause misfires, reduced power, increased fuel consumption, and higher emissions or knocking.

In other technical contexts, the term can denote the trigger signal for ignition devices in gas burners or other combustion systems, always serving as the control input that starts the flame or spark.