[SEL] Magneto/Battery Ignition Question

Sun Mar 26 07:34:50 PST 2006

In a message dated 3/26/2006 2:40:27 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
svsuzanne at copper.net writes:

NEVER  try to hook a battery directly to a magneto. It's sure death for the 
mag.  This method of starting an engine works very well but you must use a  
double pole switch like a knife switch.  One side goes to a battery  and coil 
and the other pole goes to the mag.  The center contact goes  to the igniter.

Dan,
Thanks.  
In researching this subject (_http://www.old-engine.com/maglma.htm_ 
(http://www.old-engine.com/maglma.htm) ),  I came to the same conclusion.  The 
battery/magneto ignition system only  works with a low tension system using an 
ignitor.  Since I have never seen  a battery/magneto system installed on an engine, I 
wanted to verify the hook  up.  This setup is probably used when starting 
larger engines where it  isn't possible to turn the crankshaft fast enough to get 
 the magneto to generate a spark.
However, there is another question.  In operating the low  tension magneto 
without being connected to the ignitor (open circuit) will it  cause any damage 
to the magneto?

Francis  Maciel
Santa Maria, CA

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<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 3/26/2006 2:40:27 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,=20
svsuzanne at copper.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><=
FONT=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size=
=3D2>NEVER=20
  try to hook a battery directly to a magneto. It's sure death for the <BR>m=
ag.=20
  This method of starting an engine works very well but you must use a=20
  <BR>double pole switch like a knife switch.  One side goes to a batte=
ry=20
  and coil <BR>and the other pole goes to the mag.  The center contact=20=
goes=20
  to the igniter.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Dan,</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Thanks.  </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>In researching this subject (<A=20
href=3D"http://www.old-engine.com/maglma.htm">http://www.old-engine.com/magl=
ma.htm</A>),=20
I came to the same conclusion.  The battery/magneto ignition system onl=
y=20
works with a low tension system using an ignitor.  Since I have never s=
een=20
a battery/magneto system installed on an engine, I wanted to verify the hook=
=20
up.  This setup is probably used when starting larger engines where it=20
isn't possible to turn</STRONG><STRONG> the crankshaft fast enough to g=
et=20
the magneto to generate a spark.</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>However, there is another question.  In operating the low=20
tension magneto without being connected to the ignitor (open circuit) will i=
t=20
cause any damage to the magneto?</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=3D0 face=3DArial size=3D2 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" PTSIZE=3D"10"=
><B>Francis=20
Maciel<BR>Santa Maria, CA</B></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>