Author Topic: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?  (Read 10892 times)

Offline PeepPaadam

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 250
  • BHP: 8
Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« on: February 10, 2015, 01:13:17 pm »
What would be the best strategy to fire 16 passive coils? Engine in question is AMG 5.5liter V8 which has two plugs and three valves per cylinder. Engine is pretty much the same as on SLR McLaren.

I have put VEMS onto similar engine before once but then we did not have original coils and I used four Bosch 2x2 coilpacks.

This time it is not an option as I am doing a plug and play adapter for this engine, the owner wants to run original coils and engine harness.

Can I just wire two coils into one IBGT output? Or do I have to start building ignition expander where I install separate IGBT's to each coil?


Offline gunni

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1492
  • BHP: 37
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2015, 09:52:14 pm »
Ideal solution is one logic output operates two transistors

You can use TC4427A as the driver for two transistors.
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/20001423J.pdf

So logical output drives both inputs into the TC4427A and each output drives a transistor for each coil.


Offline Kamuto

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 814
  • BHP: 19
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2015, 11:00:34 pm »
What would be the best strategy to fire 16 passive coils? Engine in question is AMG 5.5liter V8 which has two plugs and three valves per cylinder. Engine is pretty much the same as on SLR McLaren.

I have put VEMS onto similar engine before once but then we did not have original coils and I used four Bosch 2x2 coilpacks.

This time it is not an option as I am doing a plug and play adapter for this engine, the owner wants to run original coils and engine harness.

Can I just wire two coils into one IBGT output? Or do I have to start building ignition expander where I install separate IGBT's to each coil?
did one last year, no big deal. 2 coils per output., drift car, no failures or broken igbts, ecu case felt warm :)
Vems installer in Lithuania
[email protected]

Offline PeepPaadam

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 250
  • BHP: 8
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2015, 05:18:17 am »
I have used TC4472A's to fire two VAG active COP's  from one output using 100 ohm resistors, worked fine.

ThoughI am a bit hesitant with passive coils, need to measure the resistance and calculate a bit how much the maximum current will be...

BTW, this engine also goes to a drift car in Germany, E86 Z4 Coupe.

Offline MWfire

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 721
  • BHP: 35
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2015, 08:54:30 am »
You need 16x igbt transistors, two of them firing at the same time.
If you will fire only one coil, you will destroy a engine with knock(you will need many advance for power, then knock will start).

Offline PeepPaadam

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 250
  • BHP: 8
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2015, 12:03:09 pm »
I know that very well, I have been messing with twin-plug Porsche 911 engines for years.

My main point was that if it is safe to fire two coils from one IGBT. According to Kamuto it can be done.

Kamuto, can you tell me the resistance of the coils you used two per one IGBT output?

Offline Kamuto

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 814
  • BHP: 19
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2015, 01:29:45 pm »
I know that very well, I have been messing with twin-plug Porsche 911 engines for years.

My main point was that if it is safe to fire two coils from one IGBT. According to Kamuto it can be done.

Kamuto, can you tell me the resistance of the coils you used two per one IGBT output?
I have never measured it, but it was same amg 5.5 engine with charger with stock double coils.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/10013501_767534259932540_1652836942_n.jpg?oh=0638e67adbabb9a035c0a29e5a92e155&oe=554F2ABC&__gda__=1432586805_a503386bf872d9a36bfabf572658aeaf

that one, btw, it has one more dbw operated throttle inside charger unit, it has to be blocked somehow :D
« Last Edit: February 11, 2015, 01:34:08 pm by Kamuto »
Vems installer in Lithuania
[email protected]

Offline PeepPaadam

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 250
  • BHP: 8
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2015, 02:33:07 pm »
Yes, I know about this one. Did you use main DBW throttle with VEMS or did you converted it to cable?

Also, care to share your cfg file? I only have cfg file for 1.0.73 from 2007 lol :D

Thanks a lot for the info!

Offline Kamuto

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 814
  • BHP: 19
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2015, 08:03:22 pm »
Yes, I know about this one. Did you use main DBW throttle with VEMS or did you converted it to cable?

Also, care to share your cfg file? I only have cfg file for 1.0.73 from 2007 lol :D

Thanks a lot for the info!
yes I have used it with vems, post your email, will send it someday
Vems installer in Lithuania
[email protected]

Offline PeepPaadam

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 250
  • BHP: 8
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2015, 05:38:14 am »
Please send it to [email protected]

Tnx!

Offline MWfire

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 721
  • BHP: 35
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2015, 02:09:36 pm »
I know that very well, I have been messing with twin-plug Porsche 911 engines for years.

My main point was that if it is safe to fire two coils from one IGBT. According to Kamuto it can be done.

Kamuto, can you tell me the resistance of the coils you used two per one IGBT output?
No, you can't fire 2 coils with one igbt. Problem isn't in current or heating igbt. Problem is different break down voltage for spark. So you will have one good spark and one weak spark.

dbw works very good, i done 10+cars with dbw.

Offline Kamuto

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 814
  • BHP: 19
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2015, 09:33:34 pm »
No, you can't fire 2 coils with one igbt. Problem isn't in current or heating igbt. Problem is different break down voltage for spark. So you will have one good spark and one weak spark.
this is something new :)
« Last Edit: February 13, 2015, 08:36:47 am by mattias »
Vems installer in Lithuania
[email protected]

Offline gunni

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1492
  • BHP: 37
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2015, 01:02:17 pm »
I know that very well, I have been messing with twin-plug Porsche 911 engines for years.

My main point was that if it is safe to fire two coils from one IGBT. According to Kamuto it can be done.

Kamuto, can you tell me the resistance of the coils you used two per one IGBT output?
No, you can't fire 2 coils with one igbt. Problem isn't in current or heating igbt. Problem is different break down voltage for spark. So you will have one good spark and one weak spark.

dbw works very good, i done 10+cars with dbw.

This is not correct. I have seen it in practice with easily over 40hours of full racing rpm's. 7000km at full load basically.

Offline PeepPaadam

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 250
  • BHP: 8
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2015, 07:23:10 am »
Ok, evidently the reliability is not an issue as Kamuto also said but what about spark strength when firing both coils from single IGBT?

Offline gunni

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1492
  • BHP: 37
Re: Best way to fire 16 passive coils?
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2015, 10:52:33 am »
Coil charge will double, so you need to know how much current you need and how much charge time that is.