Transistor Ignition question

[lance]

Is the ignitor box made by Hitachi?  I have a great deal of practical
experience with replacing the drivers in a 1984 FJ1100 Yamaha to use coils
with a lower primary resistance (needed more spark after compression boost).
Way back in 1985, I used an RCA SK series device in a TO220 package with a
300v rating (you need it for back EMF).  It was quite reliable, and this
bike was my daily transportation, so it saw duty rain or shine both in
California and overseas without issues.  Also it appears that the IGBT is
ideal in an ignition application and would be what I would use now.

Lance

P.S.  I agree that Japanese motorcycles have the some of the worst
electronic devices in the motoring world.  Motorcycles also have incredibly
short warranty periods compared to cars...

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-diy_efi at diy-efi.org [mailto:owner-diy_efi at diy-efi.org]On
Behalf Of Arnaud Westenberg
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 1:39 AM
To: diy_efi at diy-efi.org
Subject: Transistor Ignition question


Hi,

I have some questions about my motorcycle ignition. It's a transistor
ignition from 1980 for four cylinders with pick up sensors and wasted
spark setup (Suzuki gsx1100 '80). Problem is that one of the two
transistors is broken and I don't have a clue what type it is.

I've tried replacing it with a 'normal' transistor rated at high
voltage, can't remember the voltage exactly but I believe it was around
400V. This worked for a while, although with a less powerfull spark at
low rpm, but like expected it broke again. I guess it couldn't handle
the high levels of voltage and current at the same time?

I've read an application note about IGBTs and I think that such a
transistor might work in the old ignition system. Reading about the
IGBTs protection/operating area makes me quite confident that such a
transistor wouldn't break in this application. Probably IGBT's are
specifically designed for automotive use?

I'd like to know if you think a IGBT would work, how to select one and
where (what kind of store) I can order one without having to buy 10,000
of them. (I'm from the Netherlands).

The only selection criteria I can think of is the basis lead voltage
level at wich the transistor switches, but again I don't know this level
either. I could try to get an indication of this voltage with an
oscilloscope (PC card) provided this voltage isn't influenced by
removing the transistor??

Could someone please talk me through this because a new ignition module
costs around $400 (USD) so there's quite some budget available to find a
suitable transistor? Guess I don't have to mention that I'm not an EE
:-))

Thanks for any help.

Greetings Arnaud
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