Home Forum Ask A Member How do Atom Computer Ignition modules work?

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  • #1486
    benchrascal
    Participant

      I got a couple of these Atom computer ignition modules in a motor I junked a while back and got to use them recently.The first motor I put one in (a 1974 2hp Johnson) never has run well and it was out of desperation I tried this part .It starts ,runs and idles like new now .That prompted installing the second in an old Japanese motor that has no spark and no part availability .It has some spark now but not enough to fire so I’m wondering if there is anyway to boost this kind of ignition.Any ideas?

      #15908
      legendre
      Participant

        If you can supply manufacturer’s data sheets or manuals for that hardware, it would be helpful for those of us without direct, personal knowledge of the system.

        #15921
        debe
        Participant

          If you want to read up about them Google US Patent 4,163,437 Aug 7 1979. If you want the actual circuit of them with component values to make your own then ive got them, as ive reverse engineered one. There is nothing computer about them at all. Theres 3 resistors, 1 capacitor, 2 transistors in them. On the motor that you have a weak spark try reversing the polarity of the module, also the condencer needs removing as its not required.

          #15922
          legendre
          Participant
            quote debe:

            If you want to read up about them Google US Patent 4,163,437 Aug 7 1979. If you want the actual circuit of them with component values to make your own then ive got them, as ive reverse engineered one. There is nothing computer about them at all. Theres 3 resistors, 1 capacitor, 2 transistors in them. On the motor that you have a weak spark try reversing the polarity of the module, also the condencer needs removing as its not required.

            I’d be interested in a schematic. Could you post it?

            #15923
            debe
            Participant

              Unfortunatly unable to post on this site. Could email it if you PM me.

              #15925
              Mumbles
              Participant

                The red modules are for outboards with adjustable timing while the purple ones are for motors with fixed timing. Atom made their modules color coded for different applications in all kinds of magneto equipped motors.

                My ’40 Zephyr and ’60 McCulloch both have the red ones in them and it’s like night and day as far as easier starting and smoother idle compared to the points ignition are concerned. If they were still available, I think I’d change all of my motors ignition systems to the Atom modules. I still have four new ones and I think that was the last of them from Banta Saw.

                I won’t even talk about the Nova II’s.

                Here’s one Debe took apart.

                #15933
                ken-w
                Participant

                  US Member

                  Is there still a source for Atom’s?

                  #15935
                  debe
                  Participant

                    You may find some old stock as production ceased in 2005. They used to sell for $28 here in Australia.

                    #15951
                    Mumbles
                    Participant

                      Here’s Debe’s pictures showing a schematic, materials, and assembly of his module. Mighty fine work!

                      #15955
                      legendre
                      Participant

                        @Dede / Mumbles

                        That’s brilliant, thank you both. So let’s take a moment for theory-of-operation..

                        Correct me if I’m wrong, but this module triggers off of the rising voltage waveform induced across the ignition coil primary? I just can’t see any other way it would work – there aren’t any magnetic sensors and the old points are gone, so they can’t be used as a signal.

                        How could you possibly establish correct +and+ consistent ignition timing with this? Ep is a function of dB/dT, so the faster the rotor spins, the greater the voltage induced by a particular angle of rotation. If the module is set to always fire at a particular level, this would mean that the timing would advance as the engine speed increases.. and that the base timing angle is affected by things like magnet quality, rotor/stator gap, rotor magnet/coil geometry, and on.

                        "With Unique Timing Adjustment" is right.. So how the heck does it work? :geek:

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