Wiring up ignition systems

Wire up an ignition module and function generator as a trigger, coil and a spark plug.








Ignition system with distributor. It needs to be rotated fast to generate a spark.












Wasted coil set up.











Coil on a plug set up.








Building a simplified ignition module.
In this circuit we used a transistor and function generator to trigger coil primary circuit so it can induce high voltage in the secondary. Small problem we had with finding transistor data sheet as there are so many manufactures and they all slightly different.

Ignition module usually use transistors to trigger ignition coil by braking power supply to it, also can be used multiple transistors called Darlington pair, the trigger could be distributor, crank and cam sensors which tells when to ignite a spark plug.

All experiment we performed shows that the ignition system take a big step in progress from Kettering ignition system to coil on a plug, but they all work on the same principles by braking the power supply to primary coil so it will induce high voltage in the secondary for spark plug to fire. On elder vehicle system called points ignition been used, it had a fixed dwell and firing angle, but could be advanced and retarded timing with vacuum or mechanical mechanisms. Late model systems can vary dwell and firing time and adjust advanced or retarded ignition with the help of ECU and the sensors.