Ignition module to replace points & condenser in a magneto

[The Boat House]

Been experimenting with later coils and ignition modules.
Mostly curiosity as to updating to an electronic ignition
not needing points or condenser. I had a strong start but
the initial coil was not commonly used. This could turn
into an availability issue. Won’t work if you cant get them.
There is any number of coils out there. One big problem is
the location of the wires. Ones that I did get to fit didn’t
work or what was pictured isn’t what was sent.
I have also purchased a 2 modules. I have seen a video
where they were used replacing the points and condenser
but he only showed the plugs firing. Not the motor running.
So I tried both of the ones I have in Pal with the same,
interesting???, result at the end of this video.
Tubs.
https://youtu.be/t0jkx4INjYQ

[dave-bernard]

I have 2 red atom modules for magneto.

[Buccaneer]

Interesting! It’s hard to judge from the video, but would the motor start
pulling the motor over with a rope using normal effort?
With the .070 gap, I didn’t see spark for a while at low speeds,
but think it was better with the .025 gap.

How was this ignition module sensing when to fire, and why is
it firing so much earlier than on the points and condenser set-up?

 

Prepare to be boarded!

[labrador-guy]

Tubs I sure hope you can tell us how those module things work.   I replaced one on my neighbors John Deer.  It was mounted on the side of the engine case.   The mower had no spark, I ordered one just for kicks and it fired and ran great.  How does it know when to fire?   Newer Briggs n Stratton motors also have the one component spark making system.   It either works or it don’t!   No way to test the darn things.  How do they work?

dale

[The Boat House]

First I’ll tell you what I do know. These little
magneto will put out a spark just by giving
them a good twist with your hand with the
spark plug out. With the module its not even
close.
Will it start pulling over with a rope? Not
sure as I didn’t try to. When I get the mag
turned around and try it again that will be one
thing I will try.
How does it work? I don’t understand how any
of this crap works. I believe the module senses
when the polarity of the magnet changes as
it passes over the coil and then produces the spark.
How that is possible is beyond me and I may
be totally wrong here and that’s not how it works
at all.
Here is something I’m curious about. If you
put them in a 2 cylinder. Like the OMC universal
mag that has points for each cylinder would you
need to switch the plug wires?
More experiments to come. I’ll be posting the
results.
Tubs.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by The Boat House.

[Mumbles]

You need one module for each cylinder, or set of points.

[labrador-guy]

TBH I found this little tutorial on utube.  It makes the spark making process understandable.  I know from personal experience that the trigger coil starts the process.   When CDI started the only timing adjustment was at the trigger coil.   When the motor started it ran at full advance.  Nowadays most small engines run at full advance all the time.  Could one of these coils be adaptable to run on our old outboards?

This spring my lawn mowing equipment has used two coils so far.   They either work or they don’t.  None of my pack of mowers are new and none have ignition points or condensers.  I am purchasing some spare coils.  It would be nice to bolt on a coil on and old outboard that will spark and run without points and condensers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNlYbvDY6pI

dale

[rudderless]

search debe atom as there is a lot of information.  He deconstructed an Atom eliminator and has the schematic to build one yourself.

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