Glow plug igniter question
 

Ok I have been flying planes for years, now am also into on road and off road rc. I have a 1/5 scale nitro bike. The engine is mounted on its side but getting to the glow plug is a pain. I have yet to mess around with remote glow plug igniters etc... I went out and bought one for planes but its not going to work because the glow plug is recessed down into the cooling head. I get the idea that the remote glow plug igniter has to have a positive and negative lead. I have a Traxxas ez glow plug lead that will work great but I am unsure on how to wire it. Here is a picture of it. Could someone tell me how I should wire it up. I plan to hook it to the glow plug and maybe solder a end so that it can be disconnected from the field box but leave the glow plug end still connected to the plug.

Thanks for the help...

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

Chris, You kind of lost me on you question to me as it must be something I talked about a long time ago. You can use your lead you have for the plug but you also need another grounded anywhere on the engine . Plus or minus ,makes no difference to the plug as you are just heating a element & with DC power it works no matter what, just need two wires . Hope this helps . MAX H.

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

Max

Ok so with this wire lead pictures I can just take another wire solder it to the main lead wire, ground it to my engine or metal make the second wire my negative and the blue wire lead my positive right??
Sorry just want to make sure before I give it a try.

Thanks for the help... Here is the picture again going to add a diagram idea too.

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

Looks like a winner. Two wires, one to each end of your battery. I sometimes use a Deans connector in the wires ,male & female & just plug in when starting engine then un-plug & your on your way . Good luck. MAX H.

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

Thanks for the help Max I am going to get started on it tomorrow.

Thanks again!! [8D]

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

I can't tell what you are planning to do from your diagram. It almost looks like you are running the ground wire back to the main lead. The main lead would have to go from the center post of the plug to one of the battery terminals. The other wire has to go from the other battery terminal to a grounding point on the engine. The circuit is completed across the glow plug element.

Maybe I have mis-interpreted your plan??

Ross

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

Hey Ross,

So instead of soldering the negative wire to the positive then just run it to the negative on the battery and ground it somewhere on the engine or chassis. That was my idea, I just thought I had to run it through the positive wire as well as to the battery.
Thanks for the help I think I get it!!

So its + to the 12v source then to the glow plug & -ground to the engine mount.

Think thats it!!

Thanks again for the help and replies guys!

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

DO NOT HOOK YOUR GLOW PLUG DIRECTLY TO A 12V SOURCE!!!! Glow plugs work on 1.5V. Use a power panel or 1.5 V battery.

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

If you connect your glow plug to 12v they make a nice miniture flash bulb, guess how I know that. If you hook it up by connecting the negative wire to the positive as previously mentioned you'll put a short across the battery with disastrous results.

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

connect the blue wire to the glow plug and to the positive connector on a 1.5v source, the other wire to an engine mount screw and to the negative battery terminal. hope this clears things up

RE: Glow plug igniter question
 

Ok thanks guys, got it workiing great thanks for the help and tips.....