Ignitech fitting 120 degree

It is a littlebit like a distributor in traditional car engines that has only one coil for four cylinders. In that system a single input channel is feeding four output channels. The distributor in car engine is phased by the shaft rotating it. It is programmed to fire alternating spark plugs. Even that could be programmed to fire alternate spark plugs by crossing High voltage cables and that is also done on some drag racing V8's in where the firing order is altered by changing different camshafts.

On Ignitech two input channels adjust three output channels having three ignition coils. The distributor is made with electrical components and program inside the Ignitech. That distributor is phased by the pick-up 1 signal on input channel 1 being separed from other pick-up signals.

I think the main difference is that on the car engine the mechanical distributor is after the ignition coil and on the Ignitech system it is before coils.

The Ignitech is actually a one channel system with distributor because it first collects data from all of the pick-ups, then makes decisions and then splits the sparks for different cylinders. Spark for every cylinder is calculated from signals of every pick-ups for more accurate timing. There is no entirely separate channels.
 
we only buy the TCIP4 Full system configured for Hall Effect triggers from Ignitech these days, used to buy the 2 channel version but price difference is only a few euro so easier to stock one version only
plus with the 4 channel box we can use its functions on a 180 engine to allow us to run 3 separate single pole Nology ignition coils
can also use the same program set up to run 3 x dual coils on a 180 engine that has been converted to twin plug head

we use the same TCIP4 box on all Laverda models, 500 engines in 180 and 270 degree configurations, 750 engines in 270, 284 or 360 degree configurations, 180 and 120 triples, is just a matter of programming

 
MotoJouni said:
^Very interesting.

Why 284 degrees on 750's?

Do you have pic's of twin spark heads?
Click to expand...

couple of years ago I built 3 x 880cc Twisted Twins at the same time, I set 2 engines at 270 degrees but set the 3rd engine at 284 degrees as that is what Phil Irving calculated as being the optimum crank phase for a vertical twin, was curious to see if we could tell the difference between the engines
alas, could not tell the difference though we have not had them going back to back yet either, plus the 284 engine was crashed at Lakeside and the owner retired from racing after that so we are waiting for someone else to purchase that engine and return it to the track

Marty on this forum has a twin plug head on his bike, I don't have a photo of it though I do have a twin plug head in stock, also converted by the same person
I made a head fixture a few years ago to allow me to machine a twin plug head but not done one yet, is on the list of projects to be done, intend to use 2 x 12mm spark plugs per cylinder so need to weld up a 78 all alloy head as the donor

 
I was just talking to a mate in the IT business here in Hobart. He's picked up a bunch of Dell Latitude D630 laptops from a business that upgraded all their laptops to later models. They're a few years old but have all got brand new hard drives (old drives were removed and destroyed fo security reasons). He's selling them for $150 each with Windows installed (forgot to ask what version - prob Win 7).

I'm posting this here because that particular model has a serial port - RS-232 - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9), which is unusual in laptops these days.  That means you can plug your Ignitech ignition module straight into the laptop without having to faff about with a USB - serial adaptor. I've found the adaptors to be unreliable.

At present he has 8 of them left. I'm getting one for myself since I need a backup laptop anyway. If anyone (in Australia) is interested, let me know and I'll snaffle one for you.

Specs for Dell Latitude D630 are here http://www.cnet.com/products/dell-latitude-d630/specs/
 
I bought an ex-government D630 from grays online some years ago for exactly this purpose (my EFI system also uses serial).  It's sort of the last of the good quality laptops with a serial port, the later E5500 still had one but felt poorly built in comparison.
 
Bilmey. I thought it was a bit of a long-shot and wasn't actually expecting any takers  :o

So we have ...
On forum:
Red 2
Maurice 1
Vince 1

Off forum (in Tassie):
Tim 1
Andrew 1
Cam 1

That's 7 of the 8 spoken for. Maybe I should reserve all of them in case someone else chimes in a bit later.

Edit 1:
I just tried to phone Dean (my IT mate) but he wasn't answering. So I sent him a text to say I'd take at least 7 of the D630 Laptops, possibly all 8 if he still has them. He told me yesterday that he might be out of circulation for a few days because of a family bereavement (it's been that kind of month for a few of us :(). I'll let you know when I hear from him.

Edit 2: Re the operating system: I think he said the machines were licenced (sticker on the back) for Windows Vista or some such, but he can upgrade to Win 7.
 
Vista sucks, as does 8 and 10 so has to be 7

I have a Superflow Flow bench, Camshaft stand, the Stuska Dyno and a computerized Valve spring tester and they all use the RS 232 9 pin serial port connection
still makes me wonder why but as Stuska explained the RS 232 connection is more stable but makes no sense if you cannot find a computer to attach to them expect via a serial port to USB adaptor

 
RS232 is still pretty much the standard comms port with industrial control systems, which is why all your equipment has them. You can buy new computers with serial ports (such as Toshiba or Panasonic Toughbook, Toughpad, etc.) that are designed to be dragged around in harsh environments like factories and processing plants, but they're not cheap ($3k to $6k).
 
Just had a reply from Dean. He was a bit gobsmacked that I want 7 of them  :D

Windows 7 no problem. He reckons it's the pick of the Windows options too. Most drivers work better with Win 7.

He has to install the new hard drives and load up the software, etc. So will start getting them ready when he gets back from his funeral trip. I'll be in Melbourne next week, then some other commitments, so it'll be at least a week or 10 days before I'll be able to pick them up, possibly longer if Dean gets dragged off to do real work in the meantime.

PS: We'll organise payment later. Dont send any money yet.
 
just got back from Ollie's and he will take the last one for his flow bench
so 3 for us

cheers

 
OK. I just sent Dean a text to say I'd take all 8. So no more orders please.

In regard to Brett' video showing the highly likely scenario of it bursting into flames (if you happen to be using it inside a fucking blast furnace), I probably should add that being second-hand, they won't come with a warranty of any kind. It's at buyer's risk, but if it spotaneously combusts in a month's time you've only lost $150 plus postage. Probably not enough to make any of us destitute.

Anyway, Dean will make sure they're all working OK before I pick them up.
 
One of the guys in Tassie doesn't need a serial port (I knew he didn't have an Ignitech on any of his bikes, so I checked with him). He just wants a reasonably good laptop. If we can find him another one that he's happy with, there may be one more Dell D630 up for grabs. No promises, but if anyonewants to go on he standby list, let me know. First in first served.
 
redax5 said:
Vista sucks, as does 8 and 10 so has to be 7

I have a Superflow Flow bench, Camshaft stand, the Stuska Dyno and a computerized Valve spring tester and they all use the RS 232 9 pin serial port connection
still makes me wonder why but as Stuska explained the RS 232 connection is more stable but makes no sense if you cannot find a computer to attach to them expect via a serial port to USB adaptor
Click to expand...

I just went through the process of getting a serial port to USB convertor cable working to be able to "talk" to an Ignitech box. Could not make it work on my brand new high powered Windows 10 equipped laptop. No way, no how.

Wound up fixing my old laptop by installing anew solid state drive in it, and doing a fresh Windows 7 install on the new drive. Plug in the new RS 232 to USB cable into a USB port. Then you have to go into "Device Manager", find the device with the yellow warning symbol (likely will be called USB serial cable device), right click on it to bring up its menu, select "Update Driver Software", then select either automatic search or manual search.

In my case, automatic search did not work, so chose manual search, browse, and in my case, my convertor cable came with a driver CD (which bloody well would NOT install the driver automatically), find and choose the device driver you need from the CD, when driver is installed, go back to "Device Manager". Your yellow warning symbol should have disappeared. BUT, you are not done, then you find the USB Serial Convertor, and you still have to install the "Virtual Com Port" for which you also have to install a driver. Basically it is the same set of steps as above, Once completed and installed, exit out of everything, and REBOOT the computer to initialize your driver changes.

then, once the computer reboots, and making absolutely sure you have power and ground to your Ignitech box either from the bike or a direct battery feed with jumper wire, then plug your Ignitech into the RS 232 convertor/USB cable, plug the USB into the computer, and initialize the Ignitech software........

far, far from "Plug and Play, but if I could figure it out, you can as well, bloody hell.....

Now that I have it figured out for Windows 7, I am going to give another go at getting it working under Windows 10, we'll see.......

Paul LeClair

 
I got my USB to serial adaptor to work after similar farting around, and it will connect to the Ignitech box to allow programming. But when you start the engine the connection fails, probably because the bike's alternator or ignition system introduces an oscillating voltage signal that the adaptor can't handle. I haven't tried it with the charging system disabled - it might work.

The laptop should stay connected to the ignition module while the engine is running, and the software will give real-time info such as revs, advance, etc. But the the connection has to be stable, which it isn't with an adpaptor.
 
Laptops are here.

Red was first cab off the rank, so I'll box up 3 of them and send to him.
Vince was next so I'll send one to him too.
I'll try to get them packed and sent before I piss off to the mainland next week. I'd better go and buy a shitload of bubble wrap tomorrow.
I'll take one laptop with me to drop off at Maurice's place while I'm passing through Victoria.

I'll email or PM you guys individually with my bank details when I have the postage costs.

Cheers,
Cam
 
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