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Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 12:23 pm
by misterp
Hi folks,
I need some help with fitting a powerspark ignition module as I think I have a dud one.
Basically car is standard with ballasted coil and currently running points/condenser.
I have purchased the powerspark/SimonBBC 44d4 kit which consists of the module, pickup and rotor arm (as well as cap and leads).
Following the instructions supplued I connected the red lead from the module to a 12v switched live from the fuse box, and then connected the black to the -ve of the coil and then disconnected all the other cables off the -ve side (as per instructions).
I get no spark and a constant 12v on the black wire (so doesn't appear to be switching).
Is there anything I'm missing here?
If anyone has fitted this module before to their sprint, then can they let me know what they may have had to do different to the instructions supplued with the kit?
Thanks
Andrew
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 1:16 pm
by Galileo
Quite simple to install, and the Powerspark one does say that it 'should' work with a ballasted coil with a resistance >1.5 ohm. The only bits to touch on the coil is the -ve, so it's remove contacts and condenser, replace with new module, red wire to convenient full +12v source, black wire to coil -ve, adjust timing statically, fire up the engine and tune with a strobe if you have one.
Well at least that's the theory, and looks like you have done just that so heading towards a faulty unit. I tried the Britpart one, didn't have much joy as I couldn't get it to trigger reliably.
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 3:43 pm
by whydidistartthis
Don't know if this will help but i have been experimenting with these kits to fit to a Sprint standard distributor.
I have found the trigger or pick-up need to be in the correct horizontal plane. Can you try moving things up or down a bit?
I went through a couple of 'duds' before finding this out..
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 3:44 am
by misterp
whydidistartthis wrote:Don't know if this will help but i have been experimenting with these kits to fit to a Sprint standard distributor.
I have found the trigger or pick-up need to be in the correct horizontal plane. Can you try moving things up or down a bit?
I went through a couple of 'duds' before finding this out..
Love the username...my thoughts exactly last night
Can you elaborate a bit more? The powerspark/SimonBBC modules have a step in them. The collar fits over the cam lobes and when pushed down seems to sit at the level of the lower step.
Are you saying that I need to move the collar up a bit so that the upper step 'sees' the collar (and the magnets)?
I've read stories of people having to file down their rotor arms (which I think Id need to do if this is the case), if so then the kit isnt really fit for purpose?
One other question..and its a mix and match...I have a pertronix unit from another 44d4 dizzy but it came without the pickup collar. Do you think its possible to fit the Powerspark collar and use the Pertronix ignitor module?
Last question (promise)...how do you check operation? Im assuming you should see on a multimeter the voltage going from 12v - 0 -12v - 0 - 12v as the distributor rotates (mimicking the points opening and closing?) is this correct?
Thanks
Andrew
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 7:42 am
by tony g
I had a dud one when I fitted mine. I went through it all numerous times and it would try to fire but wouldnt run. Always ran with points back in. When I rang them to get ideas I mentioned the "air" gap between module and pick up was larger than I'd like and he said its ok the file the holes to get it closer. Still it didnt work and he agreed to send me another one which worked good. Its a good cheap way for electronic ign but quality control needs looking at or theyll get a bad rep. ps mines on ballasted system too and I purchased a new coil from them also to be sure I had the right set up.
Tony
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 11:06 am
by misterp
Thanks Tony...
Im hoping that they send a new unit out if it proves to be a dud. Trouble for me is the time for stuff to arrive from the UK. On a good week its 7-10 days, on bad weeks it can be 14 days or more.
Think the UK post office and our Aus post are as bad as one another!
Cheers
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 11:14 am
by Jon Tilson
With a similar unit fitted on a Spitfire and a multimeter fitted you do just see a kick as the trigger point is passed.
We did this to set the static timing and it worked fine.
It doesnt stay up or down as it does with points...its just a kick on the needle.
I fitted the Wellman kit from Maplin which keeps the points and works fine ballasted....Only about 20 quid from our Maplin
or Radio Shack as they are in the US. DO you have those in Oz?
It says to loose the condensor, which is rubbish advice unless your condensor is shorting, which most arent. Most just go
down in capacity and lead to burned out points. Never know one go short.....
It it bows its a seconds work to swap it out. Just need to lube the points so the rotor doesnt wear.
Jonners
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 2:14 pm
by Mad Mart
I had problems recently with XJX. They asked me to send the module back for testing and turned it around straight away. New module sitting on my desk. The red lead can go to the coil even on a ballasted system, I asked.
Yes thats correct red wire to positive of the coil and black wire to the negative of the coil. Our module will work between 6v and 16v so will work fine with the 9v of the Ballast coil
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 2:38 pm
by tony g
Mad Mart wrote:I had problems recently with XJX. They asked me to send the module back for testing and turned it around straight away. New module sitting on my desk. The red lead can go to the coil even on a ballasted system, I asked.
Yes thats correct red wire to positive of the coil and black wire to the negative of the coil. Our module will work between 6v and 16v so will work fine with the 9v of the Ballast coil
They didn't want mine back which tells a story
Tony
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 2:39 pm
by tony g
misterp , insist they send you a proven checked good one so you don't get the same problem
Tony
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 2:47 pm
by misterp
Cheers Tony..
Just checked my e-mails and they've offered just that..a checked unit is winging its way to me.
Top marks for after sales service
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 3:35 pm
by Carledo
I've had at least half a dozen units from Simon BBC and have stuck with them simply because their after sales service is so good. The couple of problems i've had have been sorted rapidly and efficiently. They do seem to be extremely knowledgeable about their product too and have a much wider range than other suppliers.
For many years I used and swore by the Lumenition Optronic system but with the price of their kits now approaching £200, I thought I'd give the Accuspark a try and so far, have not had a duff one (though one of my customers did blow one up by reversing the coil wires accidentally)
I don't think it's very fair to blame them for quality control issues, they are buying the modules in, probably from the far east and probably by the thousand, in order to offer them at the prices they do.
I should add that I have NO connection with the company other than as a satisfied customer!
It's just unfortunate that you live so far away that postal delays are more than a minor inconvenience, the one time I needed a part (the trigger ring originally sent was too big) I got it within 24 hours of my phone call.
Steve
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 9:06 pm
by Richard the old one
I was given an electronic ignition kit (make unknown) plus a 12 volt coil some time back but I have not got around to fitting it. It is a good job that I did not fit it earlier or I can see that I would have had problems as I would not have changed my original 6v coil.
I have been looking at the powerspark site tonight for a 1500CC engine 45D KIT and I see that it states "To be used with a coil with resistance above 1.5 ohms only" so I assume that means you have to fit a 12volt none ballast (3 ohm) resistance coil as the 6volt standard coil is only 1.5 ohms. The document also states "Used in conjunction with our standard points type coil or Lucas DLB105 Gold Sports Coil." I assume this is a 12volt coil.
I was also interested to read in the article that it states "Please ensure that your live ignition feed is on the +ve side of the coil ready for your Powerspark Red Wire and no power is on the -ve side ready for the Powerspark Black wire. Which saves taking a feed from the fuse box.
Re: Powerspark electronic ignition fitting
Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 9:52 pm
by whydidistartthis
misterp wrote:whydidistartthis wrote:Don't know if this will help but i have been experimenting with these kits to fit to a Sprint standard distributor.
I have found the trigger or pick-up need to be in the correct horizontal plane. Can you try moving things up or down a bit?
I went through a couple of 'duds' before finding this out..
Love the username...my thoughts exactly last night
Can you elaborate a bit more? The powerspark/SimonBBC modules have a step in them. The collar fits over the cam lobes and when pushed down seems to sit at the level of the lower step.
Are you saying that I need to move the collar up a bit so that the upper step 'sees' the collar (and the magnets)?
I've read stories of people having to file down their rotor arms (which I think Id need to do if this is the case), if so then the kit isnt really fit for purpose?
As I said I was experimenting a bit. But yes this sounds right.I believe I resorted to machining the base plate location down a bit. thus lowering the module. Therefore moving the collar up does sound right as well.. All good fun!..
One other question..and its a mix and match...I have a pertronix unit from another 44d4 dizzy but it came without the pickup collar. Do you think its possible to fit the Powerspark collar and use the Pertronix ignitor module?
Sound possible, but couldn't say for sure..
Last question (promise)...how do you check operation? Im assuming you should see on a multimeter the voltage going from 12v - 0 -12v - 0 - 12v as the distributor rotates (mimicking the points opening and closing?) is this correct?
I had the distributor off the car, so jerry rigged it up with a spark plug attached to one of the leads, and watched for a spark when turning. crude but it worked...
hope you get it sorted
Martin
Thanks
Andrew