Electronic ignition

[Golden Eagle]

A week ago I was reading a post from (I think) Les Homan about the three basic ignition systems for the VW engine, and their corresponding weights.  There is the standard distributor, of course.  Then there is the frequent magneto modification.  Lastly he referred to a lightweight electronic ignition.

I am very interested in saving weight, and I would like to know more about the electronic ignition he was referring to.  If you have any information about what he was talking about, could you share a link to the website of the maker of the product?

Thanks,
Mike

[Golden Eagle]

I thought I had searched this subject and couldn’t find the answer I was after.  It looks like I have found it.  It’s the Leburg Electronic ignition.  It is going to be my VW’s ignition system!!

Update:   Well, that didn’t last long!!  I just discovered that the maker of this ignition system died in a plane crash and the product isn’t being made anymore.

So I’m back to my original inquiry about who makes a lightweight electronic ignition for the VW engine?

[leshoman]

Check out Desert Eagle RC engine CDI ignition systems. This little system is used by Burt on his Legal Eagle with great success. It has start at 0 degrees and once it exceeds a certain rpm, just above idle it advances to 25 degrees, i believe that is what Burt was telling me, the power it uses is very small and a little LIPO battery pack will power it for many hours.  The spark is not as strong as an automotive and the spark gap is closer, the one thing to be aware of is the CDI box and the plug wires all need to be grounded. They make a model that will fit over full size short plugs but not the longer plugs we use. Run a ground wire from spark plug end cap to engine at each plug.  Check out the 4th annual Northern California Legal Eagle Gathering on you tube or my blog, Legal Eagle Ultralight Flying Adventures and i believe you will get to see pictures and video, it is the White Legal Eagle, by the way, idle is beautiful and slow.

[Golden Eagle]

Thank you, Les, that was the information I was looking for.  Much obliged.

Mike

[flyover1974]

A week ago I was reading a post from (I think) Les Homan about the three basic ignition systems for the VW engine, and their corresponding weights.  There is the standard distributor, of course.  Then there is the frequent magneto modification.  Lastly he referred to a lightweight electronic ignition.

I am very interested in saving weight, and I would like to know more about the electronic ignition he was referring to.  If you have any information about what he was talking about, could you share a link to the website of the maker of the product?

Thanks,
Mike

Mike, i was made a electronic ignition last winter but due to lack of time I have not tried them yet on the 1/2 vw.
[font="Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", "Liberation Sans", "Nimbus Sans L", Arial, sans-serif]The nice thing about it is the cheap and simple construction, is very lightweight (about 20 grams) and very small.[/font][/color]
[font="Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", "Liberation Sans", "Nimbus Sans L", Arial, sans-serif]And you can program a variable timing on the personal computer.[/font][/color]
[font="Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", "Liberation Sans", "Nimbus Sans L", Arial, sans-serif]Building cost is less zhen 20 buks.[/font][/color]
I etched 3 circuit boards on pcb, the size is less then 1 square inch

[Golden Eagle]

I’m interested.  Could you post a picture of the circuitry, etc, etc, etc?

Thanks,
Mike

[flyover1974]

Sorry about the strange code in the written above, i dont know how to change it.

here some picture of the developement, the pic with the cooling aluminum is the working piece.
The other one is the piece where the integrated circuit is located and can be modified by the pc and than flasched with picit. (sorry at the moment found only picture of backside)
Is possible to build it as CDI or TCI but i think with the low rpm of our engines a TCI is more than enough powerful.
The circuitry is not developed by me but i found it on the internet by a dutch guy. It is made with a PIC 16F controller and flashed with picit .