Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
(OP)
I had to replace an ignition coil on my vehicle and realized for a six cylinder engine, only three ignition coils are uses, wherein the connection diagram has each end of the secondary going to a separate spark plug.
To me this implies that both plugs will fire at the same time, using the engine block as ground.
Is this correct?
Do two cylinders cycle in pairs, or is one cylinder spark wasted?
To me this implies that both plugs will fire at the same time, using the engine block as ground.
Is this correct?
Do two cylinders cycle in pairs, or is one cylinder spark wasted?





RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
Yes both spark plugs do fire at once.
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RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
Operation:
The ignition coil fires two spark plugs simultaneously, one on the compression stroke and one on the exhaust stroke.
Effective Spark:
When a piston is on compression stroke, most of the ignition coil's available current jumps the gap of the spark plug firing from the center electrode to side electrode, because the resistance is low.
Wasted Spark:
When the companion piston is on exhaust stroke, the spark is wasted. Very little coil energy is wasted. The companion plug fires from the side electrode to the center electrode.
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
To fully understand the configuration, I suppose that
the primary is energized at a time which will produce in the secondary, a good spark (center electrode to case) for spark plug A (which is in compression) and a waste spark for plug B (which is in exhaust), then time the primary
cutout, to give a secondary reversed polarity good spark to plug B and a waste spark to plug A.
Have I got it???
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
Perhaps someone more into electronic design can answer that.
Below is a link to a pretty good blurb on lots of things ignition, combustion, and avoiding B/S. There is some info on DIS ignition systems right about in the middle of it all. Enjoy and don't forget to bring a cup of cofee.
http://toyotaperformance.com/ign_combust.htm
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
The magnetic flux that has built up in the core suddenly collapses, producing a very high voltage in both primary and secondary windings. With waste spark systems the secondary winding has two ends, and the centre of the winding is connected to the primary, (as in a "normal" ignition coil).
When a waste spark coil fires, one plug receives a positive high voltage, and the other a negative high voltage. So half the spark plugs in the engine must always fire with reverse polarity. That is a disadvantage, but only a slight disadvantage. In practice it works fine.
The electronic modules that drive these coils are highly sophisticated. They automatically adjust dwell time, automatically correct for battery voltage, and protect the coil from perhaps burning out if the ignition is inadvertently left on without the engine running.
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
So it may be as cheap to have three designs of spark plug as just one. Or they may have screwed up.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
(I wont bore you good people with the details about my week but let me assure you my belief that peoples stupidity can be limitless was reafirmed. [frown])
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Solid State Ignition Coil Operation?
It needs to be considered if these problems would outweigh the problem of ensuring a few poorly trained individuals in the parts replacement process can outperform well trained monkeys.
Regards
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.