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Re: Ignition Coils





> I was going past the local scrap yard today and thought I would see if they
> had any ignition coils and they did so I got one but I dont know how you
> use the thing it looks something like this (attached paint file). Doesnt it
> need two HV outs? and in the fat middle one it looks like a flat head
> screwdriver could go in it.  And can you plug them into the mains or into a
> 10kv NST?(I dont really care care if it gets fried it only cost 50p)  Plese
> reply off list.

    Ignition coils are not mains devices--  they are designed for operating on
the 12 volts from your car battery, at the frequency provided by the
alternator, which interrupts the voltage.  To power your ignition coil all you
need is a low voltage DC power supply, and some kind of interrupter, such as an
electromechanical buzzer, or even a solid-state driver.  If you go the buzzer
route, look for the larger metal type, not the piezo buzzers.  These are not
electromechanical, and can't be used.  The proper buzzers work through a simple
magnetic "make and break" mechanism with an electromagnet and 2 contacts.  If
you go the solid state route, there are several circuits using 555's that are
workable.
    The ignition coil is just like any non-center tapped transformer--it only
has one high voltage out (the big center terminal), the other is grounded to
the core and the metal case.  In order to access the high voltage, you will
have to remove the flat-head screw  that occupies the central terminal.  If it
is gone, no worries.
            --mike