Courier L4-2299cc Courier (1982)
POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE - A difference of electrical pressure that sets up a flow of electric current.
POTENTIAL DROP - A loss of electrical pressure due to resistance.
POTENTIOMETER
POTENTIOMETER (POT) - A variable resistor with three connections. The third connection (wiper) moves physically up and down the resistive
element which has each end attached to one of the other two connections.
PRIMARY - (1) A low-voltage circuit or part of a circuit. (2) The input coil of a transformer.
PRIMARY WINDING - Low voltage winding of the coil which is electronically connected to its secondary only by the magnetic field they share. When
the primary winding is connected across, a potential current flows through it, building a magnetic field around itself and inducing a voltage in the
secondary. When disconnected, the cease in current through the primary again induces a voltage in the secondary which is used to ignite the air/fuel
mixture.
PRINTED CIRCUIT - Electrically conductive metal paths that are produced by printing a pattern on a board, then etching away all areas that are not
printed.
PROCESSOR - A metal housing which contains a microcomputer and other components used in providing electronic system control. The Electronic
Control Assembly (ECA) is often referred to as the processor.
PROGRAM - A set of detailed instructions which a microcomputer follows when controlling a system.
PULSE - An abrupt change in voltage whether positive or negative.
PULSE WIDTH - The length of time an actuator, such as a fuel injector, remains energized.
Q
QUARTZ-HALOGEN HEADLIGHT - A modern headlight design that produces a much brighter, whiter light than the conventional tungsten-filament
light. The bulb is made of, quartz, rather than glass, and is filled with a halogen gas. Also called "halogen headlight."
R
RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY (RAM) - A type of memory which is used to store information temporarily. Information can be written to and read from
RAM.
READ - A microcomputer operation where information is retrieved from memory.
READ ONLY MEMORY (ROM) - A type of memory which is used to store information permanently. Information can not be written to ROM; as the
name implies, information can only be read from ROM.
READOUT CONTROL - Circuits inside of the ECA that are used for operating digital instrument displays.
RECHARGE - (1) To restore energy to a battery by means of an electric current. (2) To restore the level of a substance in a system, as recharging an air
conditioner with refrigerant.
RECTIFIER (diode) - Electrical device that permits alternating current to flow in only one direction thereby transforming it into direct current.
REDUNDANT BRAKE SHUTOFF - A safety feature of Ford speed control systems that shuts the speed control system off if there is a 10-15 mph drop
in speed.
REFERENCE VOLTAGE (VREF) - Power supplied by the ECA to some sensors that are regulated at a specific voltage.
