ignition coil question

[seekingknowledge]

Hi all im wanting to get around to doing a few ignition coil experiments, just wondering how to get an ignition coil open? do i just unscrew the terminals and take the centre out? also once im inside is it possible to connect both the primary and secondary coils in series to make up one big coil?

[mscoffman]

Hi all im wanting to get around to doing a few ignition coil experiments, just wondering how to get an ignition coil open? do i just unscrew the terminals and take the centre out? also once im inside is it possible to connect both the primary and secondary coils in series to make up one big coil?

In reference to the the ignition coil, I am reffering to a standard one
like Imhotep uses in his "Emergency Light". An ignition coil is refered
to as an autotransformer because the coils are already connected
in series but have their midpoint connected to the (-) terminal.
The reason is that both coils have one end connected to ground.
The HV spark coil is referenced to ground and the primary coil is
also connected to ground. I'm not sure why one would want to change
this as it is probably mechanically difficult to get the housing open.
They probably close a flange on the metalic case with a press
like a soda-pop can, then mold the plastic top onto it. Plus they probably
use tar inside to hold the thing together, due to the design's age. The
impedance and inductance of the two coils is massively different.
The primary is only around 2.3 ohms, a few turns, while the secondary
is 3000 times primary. I'd just settle on putting a switch of some type
on the (+) terminal, switching +12vdc intermitantly, and letting the 15
to 40 KV HV pulse happen at the top terminal.

:S:MarkSCoffman