Multiple primary coil ignition system and method
View Patent ↗An original coil having a single primary winding is replaced with a replacement ignition coil having a first primary winding and a second primary winding. The replacement coil is coupled to the existing controller of the ignition system and to a spark plug. The controller is operated within predefined operating limits so as to optimize at least one predetermined ignition spark characteristic of the spark plug.
1. A method of interchangeably operating an existing controller with different ignition coils in an ignition system comprising:
replacing an original coil having a single primary winding with a replacement ignition coil having a first primary winding and a second primary winding;
coupling the replacement coil to the existing controller of the ignition system and to a spark plug; and
operating the controller within predefined operating limits so as to optimize at least one predetermined ignition spark characteristic of the spark plug.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predefined operating limits comprise predefined current limits.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined ignition spark characteristic is selected from a group consisting of spark energy and spark duration.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising supplying at least one current to the replacement coil.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein supplying the at least one current comprises supplying a current to the first primary winding.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein supplying the at least one current comprises supplying a first current to the first primary winding and a second current to the second primary winding.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first current and the second current act to create a secondary current in a secondary winding of the replacement coil, the secondary current being proportional to the sum of the first current and the second current.