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-   -   Two syncrospark units on one sensor (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/gas-engines-142/1648335-two-syncrospark-units-one-sensor.html)

dirtybird 03-22-2004 10:02 AM

Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
The ignition module on my 44cc twin died.
I don't want to put another $200 in that engine but I have two C&H synchrospark units for an alternate fireing twin I have.
Has anyone ever tried to run two ignition units from one sensor?

tkg 03-22-2004 10:31 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
It should work,IF the sensor is a hall switch and not an inductor coil.

Antique 03-22-2004 10:50 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
.

dirtybird 03-22-2004 11:20 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
Thanks for the reply.
I am going to set it up and give it a try.
I will post the results.

Geistware 03-22-2004 06:43 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
I am curious if you can "Y" the spark plug wire so that the spark goes to both plugs?




ORIGINAL: dirtybird

The ignition module on my 44cc twin died.
I don't want to put another $200 in that engine but I have two C&H synchrospark units for an alternate fireing twin I have.
Has anyone ever tried to run two ignition units from one sensor?

Antique 03-22-2004 07:33 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
Nope..The spark would jump to the easiest path first.....

ZAGNUT 03-22-2004 08:00 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 

ORIGINAL: Geistware

I am curious if you can "Y" the spark plug wire so that the spark goes to both plugs?

no...but it could be set up so that one plug terminal gets juice from the HT lead and the other plug terminal is connected to ground.

only prob is that the spark might decide that the hall sensor is an easier path to ground. maybe a plastic hub could be used and this wouldn't be a problem.

dave

Geistware 03-22-2004 08:47 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
Thanks guys. Never figured that the gap would make the difference but then that is true!

dirtybird 03-23-2004 10:35 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 

ORIGINAL: ZAGNUT


ORIGINAL: Geistware

I am curious if you can "Y" the spark plug wire so that the spark goes to both plugs?

no...but it could be set up so that one plug terminal gets juice from the HT lead and the other plug terminal is connected to ground.

only prob is that the spark might decide that the hall sensor is an easier path to ground. maybe a plastic hub could be used and this wouldn't be a problem.

dave


You are saying put the two spark plugs in series. Theoretically this would work. They do it when the spark is run through a distributer.
But then the engine would have to be isolated from ground. Has anyone tried this? It would save a coil and maybe make it cheaper.

Diablo-RCU 03-23-2004 10:44 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
To run two plugs in series, the center of the high tension lead goes to the center electrode of one spark plug. The ground wire of the high tension lead goes to the center electrode of the other spark.

Hobbsy 03-23-2004 10:49 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
If you do it that way you're turning the entire ignition system into a noise transmitter.

dirtybird 03-23-2004 12:37 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 

ORIGINAL: Diablo-RCU

To run two plugs in series, the center of the high tension lead goes to the center electrode of one spark plug. The ground wire of the high tension lead goes to the center electrode of the other spark.
Have you tried this?

rmh 03-23-2004 01:14 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
Heavenly Days!
Each plug would have to arc of course - but this seems to me like the old air gap principle put to an absurd limit.
One popular ignition does have an air gap in the cap ( seen it) and it works very well - (DA)
so the system does have merit---
I tested a 4 plug 3W /dual ignition twin -- which as I recall used one senser--
The engine was , in my book. rather anemic. tho the ignition in something which really gobbles fuel could really help thing go ---
like a rail?

Diablo-RCU 03-23-2004 01:21 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
No, I haven't tried this. Hobbsy is likely correct that radio interference could be a problem.

Antique 03-23-2004 02:06 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
I think the air gap you see in the DA wire is where the little spring contacts the top of the spark plug....:D
I just talked to Dave, it WILL work with an air gap if the little spring got lost..An air gap is NOT there by design.....

ZAGNUT 03-23-2004 03:03 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 

ORIGINAL: hobbsy

If you do it that way you're turning the entire ignition system into a noise transmitter.
there's still plenty of citroen 2CV twin boxers running this type of ignition without causing any radio interference.

i would set it up like this:
two regular high tension leads, one from the coil to the first plug and another from the second plug to the ignition box's ground. then cover both leads with a braided shield and metal cap in the standard fashion except that both braids are connected together but are NOT connected to the box in any way.

if you used a very strong magnet you could probably use a very large gap between it and the hall sensor so that the spark wouldn't jump to the sensor's ground.

if i had a twin i would try this before automatically dismissing it.

dave

Antique 03-23-2004 05:47 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
I just got some really strong magnets..They will trigger the hall sensor from about 1/8"..Any ignition that will run an engine will easily jump a 1/8 gap--mine will go at least 5/8...You can't isolate the spark plugs from the engine, they're connected by virtue of being threaded in, so both plugs are automatically grounded...Spark goes to both plugs, jumps the gap on which ever is smaller....May be one, then the other...2 coils connected in parallel will easily spark from ONE circuit and ONE sensor...

tkg 03-23-2004 09:25 PM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
There have been some coils with two leads wound this way. One lead was positive and the other lead was negitive. Of course if one lead came off, both cylinders quit.

dirtybird 03-24-2004 12:23 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 

ORIGINAL: RCIGN1

I just got some really strong magnets..They will trigger the hall sensor from about 1/8"..Any ignition that will run an engine will easily jump a 1/8 gap--mine will go at least 5/8...You can't isolate the spark plugs from the engine, they're connected by virtue of being threaded in, so both plugs are automatically grounded...Spark goes to both plugs, jumps the gap on which ever is smaller....May be one, then the other...2 coils connected in parallel will easily spark from ONE circuit and ONE sensor...

The plugs are screwed into the engine but the engine does not have to be connected to the circuit ground. As TKG says the secondary of the coil could be connected to the two spark plug leads, one end to one spark plug and the other end to the other spark plug. It just might be a better way to do it.

Antique 03-24-2004 01:42 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
UHHHH....You CAN NOT run a CD ignition without grounding the circuit to the engine...The spark comes out of the coil...It jumps the gap..The gap is grounded to the engine through the spark plug threads..It now has to get to the ground in the circuit...If the engine is not grounded to the circuit the spark takes the only other path, the Hall sensor, which IS grounded to the circuit..The Hall sensor will NOT last very long with 20,000 volts going through it....[:D
This is why my ignition in the mount has no ground wire, it's grounded through the RCA jack scrrewed into the mount....If I just run two wires out of the circuit to the battery without grounding the circuit to the engine the Hall switch dies....Been there, so has TKG and any other ignition manufacturer...The C&H ignitions with the Bosch cap and shielded lead ground through the shielded lead and cap..The other C&H ignitions without the cap have a lug on the end of the braid shield that is bolted to the cylinder or clamped to the base of the spark plug with a hose clamp...You lose the ground, the spark goes through the Hall sensor, the engine stops, PERIOD:D
Now it someone can figure out a way to insulate the spark plug from the cylinder it would work the other way....NOT possible.....

rmh 03-24-2004 07:22 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
You might take a look in the DA cap setup -
the system does not employ a solid contact from the resistor in the end of the HT lead to the "little spring".
It is a very neat setup-but was a bit of a surprise to me.

Antique 03-24-2004 08:59 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
Maybe Dave doesn't know either..He said there was no gap...Next time I find a crashed DA cap I'll look inside :D

dirtybird 03-24-2004 09:37 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 

ORIGINAL: RCIGN1

UHHHH....You CAN NOT run a CD ignition without grounding the circuit to the engine...The spark comes out of the coil...It jumps the gap..The gap is grounded to the engine through the spark plug threads..It now has to get to the ground in the circuit...If the engine is not grounded to the circuit the spark takes the only other path, the Hall sensor, which IS grounded to the circuit..The Hall sensor will NOT last very long with 20,000 volts going through it....[:D
This is why my ignition in the mount has no ground wire, it's grounded through the RCA jack scrrewed into the mount....If I just run two wires out of the circuit to the battery without grounding the circuit to the engine the Hall switch dies....Been there, so has TKG and any other ignition manufacturer...The C&H ignitions with the Bosch cap and shielded lead ground through the shielded lead and cap..The other C&H ignitions without the cap have a lug on the end of the braid shield that is bolted to the cylinder or clamped to the base of the spark plug with a hose clamp...You lose the ground, the spark goes through the Hall sensor, the engine stops, PERIOD:D
Now it someone can figure out a way to insulate the spark plug from the cylinder it would work the other way....NOT possible.....
I'm sorry to disagree with you but it is possible. But it may not be practical.
The coil is a transformer and the secondary can be a complete circuit without being connected to the primary.
The ignition circuit would have the the transformer primary(coil) connected to it and would be completely separate from the engine and the spark plugs. Since the Hall effect device has a magnetic interface it does not have to be connected (grounded)to the engine. Only getting its power from the ignition circuit
I don't know how you would handle the shields though

tkg 03-24-2004 10:16 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
You have to float the engine from ground, you can NOT use shielding that connects to the ignition. This makes it very rf noisey
The question asked at the beginning was can you use 1 sensor to drive two complete, but seperate ignitions and the answer is yes.

JBrannon 03-24-2004 10:21 AM

RE: Two syncrospark units on one sensor
 
LOL


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