Re: How do Atom Computer Ignition modules work?

[debe]

JoeCB it is in the circuit diagram as a diode, its not in the original photo of the parts as it was found necessary mutch later in my trials. It has taken a couple of years of trial & error to get the module to this stage of reliability. The biggest problem was finding a switching transistor that was a Darington type with sufficient gain & voltage plus capable of at least 6amp pulses. The protector diode came about as some ignition coils give too high a voltage spike, this would either damage the transistor or over heat it & cause it to shut down. Ken W I don’t think going to a lower voltage would help with a Nova module, It just wouldn’t work at all once you put the diode across it, & I tried it with both polarity. I wouldn’t have got this far if I hadn’t sacrificed a perfectly good Atom module to find the actual value of the resistors & the capacitor. The circuit came from the US Patent of the module, but theres no values given in the Patent. If any one wants to read about the module look up (US Patent 4,163,437 Aug 7 1979) Invented by 2 Australians. Probably one of the reasons they stoped making them in 2005 was most small engines now use CDI ignition & lack of sales.