A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce periodic pulses of alternating current.
Hand-cranked magneto generators were used to provide ringing current in early telephone systems.
Magnetos adapted to produce pulses of high voltage are used in the ignition systems of some gasoline-powered internal combustion engines to provide power to the spark plugs. The magneto is now confined mainly to engines where there is no available electrical supply, for example in lawnmowers and chainsaws. It is also universally used in aviation piston engines even though an electrical supply is usually available. This is because a magneto ignition system is more reliable than an ignition coil system which relies on a battery.
Magnetos were rarely used for power generation, although they were for a few specialised uses.
Read more about Magneto: History, Power Generation, Medical Use, Ignition Magnetos, Telephone
Other articles related to "magneto":
... released his first solo album, Mondo Magneto ... Ray said, "I guess I was just busy." Unlike other albums, Mondo Magneto was recorded on analog, then moved over to digital for further editing ... Musicians on Mondo Magneto include Scott Shriner from Weezer, Davey Faragher from Elvis Costello's band, as well as Abe Laboriel, Jr ...
... created by Joe Pruett and Brandon Peterson, appears in Magneto Rex #1-3 (May-July 1999) ... Zealot becomes an enemy of Magneto when the latter is given control of the war-torn, emancipated Genosha by the United Nations ... of mutant rebels who violently oppose Magneto's rule, and fight Magneto, Rogue and Quicksilver ...
... During the assault, Senyaka displeased his lord Magneto after critically injuring a human nurse with his energy coils and was subsequently slain by Magneto who crushed the life out of Senyaka with ... (It is worth noting, however, that Magneto killed him because he had acted without Magneto's approval, not because of Senyaka's sadistic nature ... Magneto explained that, had he been present, he would have given Senyaka his blessing, but as he was not, he punished the Acolyte for acting without his orders.) Senyaka survived, however, by ...
... created by Alan Davis, Fabian Nicieza, and Lee Weeks, first appeared in X-Men Magneto War #1 (March 1999) ... She is an Acolyte, recruited by Fabian Cortez while they search for Magneto, who is missing at the time ... She goes along with Magneto to Genosha and is killed during a Sentinels attack on the island ...
... For more details on this topic, see Telephone magneto ... early manual telephones had a hand cranked "magneto" generator to produce a (relatively) high voltage alternating signal to ring the bells of other telephones on the same (party) line and ...