Electrical igniter for gas engines A keystone to understanding by Magluvin

[baroutologos]

I conducted some fast experiments with my 555 timer fully adjustable from 200Khz to 1Khz driving my Kacher or a transistor NPN style that in turned pulsed a transformer. (solid state interrupter)

I took my isolation transformer, (220volt input primary to 15v / 25v secondary output center tapped). I begun pulsing the 220volt side. Output was collected by applying to the 15volt isolated secondary and arrange a FWBR, that in the latter was connected across a 10K uF, 25volt  electolytic cap, that i had  also attached as a load an indicating bulb 0.5amps @12 volts.

Results were poor. I must say that there are a lot sweet spots, and those are especially noted when the transformer "squeals" or hums intensely.

Most experimenting was conducted without a zener diode because the small ones i have in hand burnt. (db3 diacs actually)

Without a zener, and in that configuration (note the capacitor is just for smoothing and flyback collection, not for voltage boost) experimental results were poor ranging from 10-70% efficiency. by the way, i do not think that zener will dramatically improved (if any) my results.

I do not know, the same line of experimenting i have done in the past with always frustrating results. Perhaps Tito should give guidelines on that and specifics...

[Magluvin]

Hey logos
One problem i see is the transistor switching. A physical contact seems to work much better in creating as pure of an impulse as possible.
I use mosfet switching for stuff but it does not do the dew. The relay does the Mountain Dew Dance. =]
Try that and compare.
I admit that there is the possibility that normal transformers may be an issue here. It is just a quick substitute for trying things before building an air core transformer.

I have to go to work, but I will try a vid tonight to show what I have done.

And another interesting thing I tried is using a strobe tube and circuit as an impulse device.
Cut one of the end leads of the strobe tube and insert the transformer there. The impulses are impressive. =]
i didnt have an adjustable strobe other than changing the 400v cap on the board to smaller values to speed it up.
Your light bulb may blow with this setup. And the magnet near the transformer gives a very sharp thump.
Putting various caps across the coil( primary or secondary) inserted into the strobe circuit provides some interesting effects and applying different loads and caps to the output of the transformer change the way things happen on the input side also. 
Be careful of that strobe voltage. =]

Just another experiment, but all these things under the belt are good experience.
And actually, if the air core transformer is the key ingredient here, the strobe would be my choice for working with here. I think Walmart has them with and adjustment for freq of strobing. 

Logos, I think you will agree with me here if you give it a go.  ;]   I tried to put the output to the input and with this setup I got the best results. My strobe is of the small 12v variety from auto parts stores in the accessory lighting section. Mine is older than what is available today, but the same effects can be had.

magluvin

[mscoffman]

...
One problem i see is the transistor switching. A physical contact seems to work much better in creating as pure of an impulse as possible.
I use mosfet switching for stuff but it does not do the dew. The relay does the Mountain Dew Dance. =]
Try that and compare.
...

Sure, but inductive kicks from coil and other current causes relay
contacts to arc, essentially combusting (oxidizing) platinum and damaging
them over time. Under the presence of a magnetic field this could cause
MHD MagnetoHydroDynamic energy generation - Do you really want to
generate power in a little Internal Combustion Engine burning platinum
metal? To each his own, but transistors are better in that they don't
arc. Try to suppress the arc in the contacts...I'll bet that doesn't won't
work efficiently either. It's trying to tell you something - It's a fueled,
not an overunity process. Also, you can reduce transistor insertion
impendace to .01 ohms using special mosfets but without the arc...

:S:MarkSCoffman

[Magluvin]

Hey Ms
I understand that I can even put the transistors in parallel to lower that on resistance even more.
But the strobe tube is a very interesting spark gap and seems to be non destructive to itself, for at least as long as I ran it.
We are just getting some things going in this thread, some projects, just to simply get some experience with it all. We can talk about it forever, but till we try, we know nothing.
I am in favor of semiconductors for how and what they can do. But first things first.
I use an IRF44z mosfet in some of my experiments and it is still kickin. No blow.
But the contact switching is producing better results at this time to try things. =]

Mags

[Magluvin]

One more thing to add to that, in the igniter setup, the contacts have very little problems as compared to Titos setup.

Mags