Capacitor discharge controlled ignition

system
A capacitor discharge control or CD ignition system utilizes an oscillator to step up battery
voltage from 12 v to about 400 v. (an oscillator is device which produces electrical fluctuations
in a circuit i.e produces a flow of electrons alternately in opposite directions)

The voltage is used to charge a capacitor at appropriate time and discharge into the primary
windings of the ignition coil.

The timing of the capacitor charge and discharge may be controlled by:

a. Ignition breaker points

b. An impulse generator

When the breaker points are used, the circuit requires a silicon control rectifier (SCR).

When the impulse generator is used, it is connected to the base circuit of the transistor.

In either case the charging and discharging of the capacitor provide the necessary current flow
to build up and collapse the primary magnetic field to produce the high voltage surge required
to fire the spark plug.
Electronic ignition module

Operation

When the ignition switch is switched on TR1 is switched on, TR2 off and TR3 on. This induces a
signal at the pick-up coil which turns TR3 off and charges C1 which turns TR4 on. This results in
a firing mode which turns TR1 off, TR2 on And TR3 off.

This result to a reduced primary current induced in the primary windings and a high voltage in
the secondary windings firing the spark plugs.

TR4 stays on until C1 is discharged. When C1 is discharged TR3 turns on resulting to dwell
mode.

At higher engine speeds, C1 discharges less and less, resulting in reduced firing times, and thus
longer dwell periods. This is how dwell zone expands. C2 is a capacitor in the distributor for
radio suppression.