Are there any newer Ford EDIS modules that can be used and do I need any
 of
 the other parts of the ignition system ?
 The biggest junk yard here doesn't have any cars later than 1996.
 --
 Karibian


 Karibian, 1995 is the last year for the stand alone EDIS system which
 started in 1988 as the replacement for the DIS system. In 1996 the
 EEC-Iv
 engine computer (60 pin connector) was relaced by the EEC V (104 pin
 connector) which had the edis function added to the engine computer. For
 a
 rotary you need a 36 tooth reluctor wheel, two VR (variable reluctance)
 pickups and two EDIS-4 ignition controllers a 4 coil pack (Ford or
 Accel),
 and the plug wires. mount the VR sensors 7 degrees apart so that one
 EDIS
 fires 20 degrees BTDC and the other set fires at 27 degrees BTDC, Have a
 slotted hole mounting plate for the VR sensors for +/- 4 degrees on the
 fixed timing. Feed the two EDIS modules on separate breakers for a
 completely redundant ignition. Power will be down some on a single
 ignition.
  The application of these parts is well documented all over the
 internet, you should research this yourself for a better understanding
 of
 how many teeth before TDC the missing tooth of the 36 tooth sprocket is
 mounted, clearance of the VR sensor, 8000 RPM limit of operation. This
 is
 a
 very simple reliable system with only a few wires to sort. Thed EDIS 4
 module is available new from autoparts stores for about $37, Accel coils
 packs are about $69 and the VR sensor is about $18 Everything new for a
 redundant 2 rotor with plug wires is about $240.
 I plan on using a Ford EEC IV system on the four rotor and am
 using
 the EDIS 8 to get enough trigger signals to match the 80MM MAF sensor
 and
 eight 19 pound injectors and two EDIS 4 modules to run the ignition
 separately so that the EEC IV computer max RPM function won't reduce the
 ignition timing. Except for an inline potentiometer on the MAF 4.7 volt
 maximum input to allow lean cruise mixture the EEC IV will be all stock
 programming.


 george grimes


 Wouldn't this setup have wasted spark on the trailing plugs? I thought
 that was a no-no. Maybe I'm visualizing what you're saying wrong.

 Everett

 Everett, I am proposing using two of the EDIS controllers , one at 20
 degrees and one at 27 degrees BTDC firing two plugs each from the 4 coil
 pack. I intend to drill a piece of aluminum barstock tapped with 4 blind
 holes for the waste spark plugs to complete the coil circuit. These will
 be
 the waste spark plugs. There is a signal generated by the EDIS sensing
 the
 field collapse of the coils to verify that the plugs are firing. If a
 plug
 doesn't fire for a few seconds The EEC-IV would let the EDIS run on it's
 10
 degree BTDC Since I am using the two ignitions with fixed advance. I am
 not using the variable ignition advance so there is no connection to the
 ECU making the check signal redundant.The waste spark plugs may be
 necessary for the tach output from the EDIS to be correct. The EDIS also
 fires 3 times below 1800 RPM and once after that RPM.

 george grimes


 Ah, got it. Thanks.

 Everett

 George,

 Thanks for the explanation. Sounds like a very economical simple system,
 with redundancy, and all off-the-shelf parts. What's not to like?

 Mark S.

 Not enough sparks per combustion event :)
 First cost would be lower but one might make it up
 long term with a dual or triple MSD.

 Paul Lamar

 Paul,

 Couldn't the Ford EDIS be fed into an MSD ignition module to produce a
 multi-spark ignition system?

 Mark S.

 Yes but you don't need it. Just three low cost ABS sensors in the three
 rotor case with one just tit on the trigger wheel will do the job.

 In Tracy's system if it puts out 3 pulses to fire the LS1 coil
 that can be conditioned to fire 3 MSD systems.

 Paul Lamar


 Paul,

 Sorry, in my last post I was thinking of an automotive application rather
 than a/c.

 I've been re-reading your information on your 220v inverter multi-spark
 ignition system.  That would be a big improvement over the single-spark
 LS1
 approach.

 Mark S.

 You may have missed it but MSD rated the multi spark at 3000 RPM limit
 with an 8 cylinder, 6000 with a 4 cylinder and 12,000 RPM with
 a 2 cylinder or one cylinder 2 stroke or a one rotor. All firing
 once per rev.

 -----------------------------------------------------------
 Quote:

 Dear Sir:

 After conferring with the engineer I transferred you to yesterday, I was
 opposite of where I needed to be.

 He explained that he actually hooked up a 6A unit, basic CD ignition
 with no rev. limiter or cylinder select function. On an 8 cylinder
 application the multi-spark reduced to one spark at 3,000rpm.

 When he tested for the 4 cylinder application the multi-spark doubled to
 6,000.

 He surmised that on a 2 cylinder application, the multi-spark would
 disappear at double that r 12000 rpm.

 This was on a four stoke application.

 He did say that he wasn't sure about a Wankel application and was
 waiting for a call from you to discuss some issues.

 That engineers name is Rick Bennett, his extension is: 2402

 Sorry for the confusion. I apologize.

 Thanks,
 Rick Jage MSD Tech

 end quote
 --------------------------------------------------------

 My system would work better as the sparks are more widely spaced
 but three MDS units one for each rotor is almost as good.
 http://www.rotaryeng.net/Why-CDI.html

 Paul Lamar



 Paul,

 So then, for a 3-rotor, using six individual MSD-6A modules would provide
 a multi-spark ignition good for up to 12k rpm.  As the MSD-6A weighs 3 lbs
 each, that would be 18 lbs. of added weight not counting the coils.  I'm
 curious if its possible to use one MSD-6A per rotor to fire a dual tower
 (wasted spark) coil to fire both the leading and trailing plugs on the
 same
 rotor?  Probably not.

 Mark S.

 You got me there Mark. I think Lyn Hanover mentioned that.

 Yes here it is:

 quote:
 "The top pick up for the front housing and the lower pick up for
 the rear  housing. Have the MSD drive a double ended MSD (or other
 suitable) coil to fire  both plugs at once.  No advance curve is
 required. The engine will start and run fine with
 anything from 20 to 27 degrees of advance."
 end of quote.

 -----------------------------------------------------

 That 220 volt power supply weighs only 2 pounds so my system
 would be lighter in weight. Less the coils of course.

 Paul Lamar


 Whose quote was that?

 Mark S.


Disregard... I see that it was Lynn's quote.  But reading it a few times,
it
appears that he's describing a wasted spark system.  I am wondering if one
dual-tower coil (fired by an MSD) can fire both plugs on the same rotor.
That's how I ran my 3-rotor on test stand, but didn't have any way to tell
if both plugs actually fired together or not.  I would need a scope to tell
for sure.

Mark S.

Not wasted spark. Both upper and lower plugs fire
at the same time but only on the rotor that is ready.


Paul Lamar

I trust Lynn's information.  If he says it will work, then it will work.

I could use my triple pickup CAS.  (I still need to look around in my parts
bin for it.)  I know it will work for triggering the three MSD-6A's because
I ran it years ago using three GM ignition modules and three GM (Buick) dual
tower coils.  The only difference here is that I would substitute three
MSD-6A's for the three GM ignition modules.  And as Lynn suggests, use three
MSD coils.

Firing only one rotor each, the MSD's shouldn't have any problem providing
multiple sparks up to max rpm (7500).

Mark S.