Maker Pro
Maker Pro

ignition project for old car/motorcycle enthusiasts

K

kell

simple "ignition amplifier" circuit for use on old vehicle with points


12 volts switched
|
|
______________|___________
| |
| |
/ / to coil negative
\ \ |
/56k 2.2k / |
\ \ ___|c
| | |
| ___|____| | igbt
| c/ g |___
| / |e
| | |
|______/\/\/\_______| |
| 2.2k | |
| \ |
| e\ |
to points | |
| |
|______________|
|
|
gnd

You should use an ignition coil driver igbt like the hgtp14n40f3vl or
the mgp(Iforgettherest). Just go to Digikey and type in mgp, it will
come up. If you wanted to use a mosfet you would need a 400 volt
rating and a fairly low resistance (like a quarter ohm), and preferably
an avalanche rating, which means spendy and the mosfet won't have the
clamping protections the coil driver igbt has. So just use a coil
driver igbt. You can go with less than 2.2k on the resistors if you
use half watt resistors.
Now I expect some criticism of this circuit from the pros on the NG,
but I've built some and sold them to guys on an antique motorcycle BB
over the last few years, no complaints. I use this circuit on my 1973
International Harvester Scout II and my 1952 Harley.
With this circuit you can use less resistance in the coil primary
circuit -- more zap! For example on the Scout, I don't use a ballast
resistor; only the stock coil, which has a little over 1.5 ohms primary
resistance. As you can guess, the power transistor needs heat sinking.
You will never have to file your points or replace them. You don't
need a condenser with the ignition amplifier. (In fact you have to
disconnect the condenser.)
 
L

Lasse Langwadt Christensen

kell said:
simple "ignition amplifier" circuit for use on old vehicle with points


12 volts switched
|
|
______________|___________
| |
| |
/ / to coil negative
\ \ |
/56k 2.2k / |
\ \ ___|c
| | |
| ___|____| | igbt
| c/ g |___
| / |e
| | |
|______/\/\/\_______| |
| 2.2k | |
| \ |
| e\ |
to points | |
| |
|______________|
|
|
gnd
snip


I'd think that reducing the 56K resistor substantially would make
it more reliable, the points are made for amps of current might
not keep clean with only a few hundred microamps running through them.

-Lasse
 
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