käynnistimiä

Käynnistimiä, often translated as starters or igniters, are devices used to initiate combustion in various applications. Their primary function is to provide the initial spark or heat necessary to ignite a fuel source. In internal combustion engines, a starter motor is a type of käynnistin. This electric motor engages with the engine's flywheel, rotating it to begin the combustion cycle. Without a functional starter motor, a gasoline or diesel engine cannot be turned over to start.

Beyond engines, käynnistimiä are found in other systems. For instance, in gas appliances like stoves and water heaters, an igniter produces a spark to light the gas. This can be a piezoelectric igniter, which generates a spark when a button is pressed, or an electric ignition system that uses a glow plug or heating element. In pyrotechnics and some industrial processes, specific igniters are used to safely and reliably initiate explosive charges or chemical reactions. The design and mechanism of a käynnistin are tailored to the specific fuel, operating environment, and safety requirements of its intended use.