Subject: M&W ignitions tech support or the lack there of.
From: paul lamar
Date: 8/19/2017, 4:17 PM
To: A10-Me-Earthlink

Paul,

What fires the ignition?
I looked at the M&W site and there are T1, t2, l1,and L2.
Joe Berki

Those are the Leading and Trailing coils.
Four total. One for each plug.
Simple.


Joe,

This is the conversation I had with M&W sales. I was unable to find
out how to trigger the system with or with out a computer.
Apparently I was talking to a non engineer.

I think it will work but you will have to buy one and experiment
with it to find out. A pulse is a pulse whether it comes from a
computer or a conditioned CAS.

They make some good stuff in Oz but the documentation sucks.

Maybe somebody else on here that speaks Oz can try :-)

I give up.

----------------------- Last message first
format.--------------------------


M&W Ignitions <sales@mwignitions.com <mailto:sales@mwignitions.com> <mailto:sales@mwignitions.com <mailto:sales@mwignitions.com>>

Wayne, are you an engineer or electronic technician or are you just
sales? Do you know what a CAS is? If not show this message to the
engineer.

Suppose I fired L1 and T1 with the same leading edge  pulse from the
stock CAS (crank angel sensor) at 22 degrees BTDC and used another
CAS  180 degrees out to fire L2 and T2 would that work with the
rotary ignition _Pro-14R
<http://www.mwignitions.com/pdf/Rotary%20S3%20instructions.pdf <http://www.mwignitions.com/pdf/Rotary%20S3%20instructions.pdf> <http://www.mwignitions.com/pdf/Rotary%20S3%20instructions.pdf <http://www.mwignitions.com/pdf/Rotary%20S3%20instructions.pdf>> ?_

What would I have to connect pin 5 to.

Paul

Please explain exactly what you need.


Wayne

so we would need 4 for a rotary. One for each coil. That does not
sound like the lowest cost solution.

Suppose I fired L1 and T1 with the same leading edge  pulse from the
stock CAS (crank angel sensor) at 22 degrees BTDC and used another
CAS  180 degrees out to fire L2 and T2 would that work with the
rotary ignition _Pro-14R
<http://www.mwignitions.com/pdf/Rotary%20S3%20instructions.pdf <http://www.mwignitions.com/pdf/Rotary%20S3%20instructions.pdf> <http://www.mwignitions.com/pdf/Rotary%20S3%20instructions.pdf <http://www.mwignitions.com/pdf/Rotary%20S3%20instructions.pdf>> ?_

What would I have to connect pin 5 to.

Paul Lamar

On 08/17/2017 01:01 PM, M&W Ignitions wrote:

Paul

Our single channel Pro-10R already has a reluctor interface built in
and we will be releasing an adjustable rev-limiter version of it
shortly.

Regards

Wayne



do you have a single channel system?
we find that a fixed 22 degrees BTDC works fine for us.
No variable advance.
We use a LM1815 conditioning IC The pdf is attached.
It works with a CAS set to 22 degrees BTDC

Paul Lamar


On 08/16/2017 08:55 PM, M&W Ignitions wrote:

Paul

The multi channel systems are designed fro triggering from an ECU
not crank trigger.


Wayne


how do you get your ignition to work with a carburetor? Is is
sufficient to trigger pin 5 with a crank angles sensor?

If so what do I do with pins 25, 27, 28 and 29?

Paul


On 08/16/2017 07:43 PM, M&W Ignitions wrote:

Sorry, we do not understand your question.

Wayne

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


Paul Lamar


Paul,

I am using the single channel system, PRO-10R, with the reluctor
trigger input and a waste spark coil on the single rotor. Connected
an RX8 CAS and it worked just fine. Had it up to 7000 RPM yesterday.
I had to order it direct from M&W, because no US dealer does stock
it.

FWIW


Richard Sohn


Are you firing just one plug Richard or does that waste spark coil
fire 2 plugs? What did the single channel system  cost?

Paul Lamar


Paul,

I am firing both plugs from the same coil. I paid about $500.

Richard Sohn


I assume that is a wasted spark type coil. Is that true. Do you have
a picture of it? That is a one rotor of course.

This picture shows two coils.

Paul Lamar


Paul,

in the picture is the initial system I used, until about two years ago,
when I got a Street Fire CDI and used the waste spark coil for the first
time. I could not use this CDI in the airplane because the starter power
would not turn the engine fast enough to overcome the minimum trigger
speed the Street Fire unit required. Than I talked to M&W after you
mentioned it a few weeks ago, and Wayne told me that his system does not
have that limitation. The M&W tech info states that the unit is not
sensitive to what kind of coil one wants to use.

I believe the coil I am using now is coming from some Saturn car with a
4Cyl engine. When I was looking for newer  coils on the internet I could
not believe what is available. The coil I am using now I had for about
15years. In the picture is a brand new replacement I purchased recently.

I will have more pictures soon from the actual installation.

Richard Sohn


I think that is a wasted spark coil. Two sparks one activation pulse.
Normally with a conventional electric system it would have a dwell time.
When using it with a CD system there is no dwell time. It fires when
you tell it to fire.

Richard, do you have the M&W "installation guide" can you scan it and
send it to me?

Paul Lamar


Paul

You talk about a Pro-14R however you image you included is for a Pro-Drag4R, similar function but completely different installation instructions  and power level.
The unit was supplied with an installation guide, if you have lost it a copy may be downloaded from our website under the support -Technical Documentation tab.  Check the bottom sticker on the box before downloading as we have both Series 3 and Series 4 versions.

Triggering is explained in the documentation along with trigger edge and a great deal of important details for achieving a successful installation. They also list operating voltage and warnings about the use of 18v battery systems.

As these units are specifically designed for rotary engines L1 means Leading 1 and T1 means Trailing1 etc.

Did the installation run ok initially with our system installed and then start misfiring or did the problem start as soon as you installed the new ignition?

Wayne
M&W

I have both the drag and the regular version. The Pro14R and the pro14R Drag
docs.

What is the exact part number for the "installation guide"

I don't see anything named "installation guide" on your web site.

The M&W ignition worked OK at the lower RPM's. He probably ran the battery down a bit
and then he tried a full power run which means up to 8000 RPM.
It is connected to a Motec 800. It was installed by some one else.
He died and did not give us any documentation.

A lead acid battery will lower it's voltage when more current is needed.
As you go up in RPM with a CD system current requirements increase.

We are now installing an 18 volt battery.

Since I am very familiar with CD ignitions having a patent pending on one
of my designs I know that the high voltage (300 volts) required to charge the capacitor
is very sensitive to primary battery voltage at less than 12 volts.

Here is a video of my system
at 8000 RPM. This is 4 sparks 5 degrees apart. Patent pending. It will be  a revolution in ignition
systems if I get the patent.

This is not to criticize, degrade or compete with your systems.
Your system works fine with the right battery supply voltage for one spark.
I like it as potentially it will work with out a ECU if I can only figure how
to wire it  In other words a carburetor-ed engine.

My next door neighbor manufactures and sells CD systems that work down
to 5 volts but the design engineer set out to do that when he designed the high
voltage capacitor charging supply. His works with carbs.

It is called Light Speed Engineering ignition. His only works to 2600 RPM
for up to six cylinders.

Paul Lamar

Paul

The installation guides are found where i indicated previously, just look down the page for a name that matches your units then click on the link.
As indicated in the instructions our street systems will run down to 6v and the drag units 12.5v.
Is this an old installation that just started to play up or a new installation that does not work at high rpm?

Wayne
M&W


In other words the words "installation guide" does not appear on your web site.
Is that correct?  Are you just fucking me over?

I already told you several times I had both pro14R and pro14R Drag pdf's.
The info I am looking for is not there.

IMHO your documentation is crap.

If we get the TTC record I will make sure the brand of ignition used will not be displayed.


To: Joe Berki,

Forget M&W.

I now recommend  two used MSD 6's from ebay and couple of wasted spark coils.
The coils Richard Sohn uses.
You can get plenty of understandable documentation from multiple sources
on MSD 6's. Been around for at least 20 years.

Summit has a low cost CD system as well. SUM-850610
   Ignition Box Silver Digital Capacitive Discharge Adjustable Rev Limiter
Here is the summit doc as well. 10 times better than M&W docs.
With wiring diagrams that leave no doubt about how it is
connected.

Works down to 10 volts and puts 460 volts in the coil.


   Paul Lamar


Okay, for the PRO-10R, Is see the technical documentation, which I would call a "manual", with "installation notes" on page 3. That seems to be
what Wayne is talking about. I also now see from Richards input about the "wasted spark" type coil. I have not seen these, have to reasearch
them more. Thanks for the info Richard.

Steve Carlisle

   I think Wayne is lying.  I don't think he designed it at all. He does not know the answers
   to my questions. Any electronic tech would know the answers.

   Paul Lamar

Steve,
In any circuit there is a requirement for a complete loop. In a regular coil from the older distributor equipped engines the low voltage was supplied through a ballast resistor at 8v to 9v. That circuit grounded through the points. The high volt for ignition of course came from the center of the coil to the distributor, rotor and then to a spark plug. After jumping the gap in the spark plug, how did the circuit complete? The high tension winding is generally joined with the low tension winding, if I remember correctly where the 8v supply is starting to flow through the winding. The ground is completed through the low tension coil. If you touch the points terminal on the coil of a running engine you will receive a shock. There is about 300v there. With an appropriate multi meter you can see that.


Now a waste spark coil has the low tension winding supplied with battery voltage on one end. The ignition control module of the ECM or ECU grounds the other end for current to flow and charge the winding. The the circuit is opened by a signal from the CAS. As the field collapses the high tension winding is induced with a high voltage current. This flows one direction out one post to the spark plug and jumps the gap. At the same time another spark plug gap is being jumped but the current flow is the opposite direction and back to the other post of the coil.


On a regular points ignition, if you connect the coil low voltage wires backwards the ignition does not work real well. The usual thought is the spark jumps from the center of the insulator to the ground post. Actually it flows from the ground post of the plug to the electrode in the insulator. You get better initiation of flame travel this way. With magneto equipped engines, every second cylinder in the firing order fires backwards but due to the very high power developed the burn is initiated well. Waste spark systems develope very high voltage and current. The GM Quad four engine had the ignition under the valve cover so access was only after disconnecting all wiring. That system developed enough power to kill you. I think many of the coil on plug systems are close also.

I hope that explains waste spark ignition.

Dale Davies
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