Induction

• An ignition coil is a form of transformer that operates using magnetic induction. The coil is formed from two coils of wire with different numbers of loops within them. When an electrical current flows through one of the coils, it generates a magnetic field, which in turn induces an electrical current in the other coil. The variation in the number of loops between the two coil serves to change the strength of the voltage from one coil to the other.
  
  

Generation

• In a car, the current that undergoes induction in the ignition coil is generated by a battery, and then sent to the engine by an insulated wire. In a generator, however, the current is generated by an electromagnet, which operates by spinning a coil of wire in a magnetic field. This current is sent to the ignition coil, where it is transformed into the specific voltage the generator is designed to create.
  
  

Purpose

• An ignition coil is an essential part of a generator. It can transform a low voltage current generated by an electromagnet into higher voltage current; a higher voltage current loses less power when transmitted long distances over power lines. The transformation in voltage accomplished by the ignition coil is also useful in that it allows the generator to create the specific voltage appropriate for the type of appliances or engines it is intended to power.