driving ignition module

[reflexdb]

After reading many posts about ignition modules that teams use, along with pros and cons of each, I have one unanswered question: Can the 4-channel Bosch ignition module (p/n: 0 227 100 211) be driven with a 5v logic level ECU output? I'm using a Mototron ECU. How well do these units work for you? Any problems that you have noticed?

[reflexdb]

After reading many posts about ignition modules that teams use, along with pros and cons of each, I have one unanswered question: Can the 4-channel Bosch ignition module (p/n: 0 227 100 211) be driven with a 5v logic level ECU output? I'm using a Mototron ECU. How well do these units work for you? Any problems that you have noticed?

[johnny_hawks]

According to a bosch specsheet, the input of this modules is designed for 5V logic.

Johannes

[reflexdb]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The Bosch module is easy to wire, but not easy to control. If you do your own, use logic level IGBTs. The Bosch module is current driven, and needs more than 5 V but must be current limited through a resistor. The analysis is not trivial. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This was found in this thread:
http://fsae.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/125607348/m/50710435...10117131#25710117131 (http://fsae.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/125607348/m/50710435131?r=25710117131#25710117131)

Kind of confusing. I was wondering if this Bosch unit is truly plug-and-play, or not.

[Analogue]

Yeah, I wrote that. I spent a while looking for a datasheet, gave up, cut one open, and came to my own conclusions.

I suspect that the Bosch module will work for a pretty wide range of voltages, but at 5V there's little room to have a noisy ground. Since it has a darlington transistor in there, all it really wants is base current. 20-30 mA should be fine. To make sure noise wasn't an issue, I used a 12 V drive through a few hundred ohms of resistance. It also already has a few hundred ohm resistors on the inputs internally.

VW owners seem to think these units are flaky. Our Huco module also died recently. Cause is unknown, but a battery charger had been hooked up to the dyno around the same time. All 4 channels went at once, with no sign of a struggle. We don't use them anymore, because 25 bucks of VB921 IGBTs are much tougher and for sure logic drive.

Keith

[reflexdb]

Yeah. I was planning on building our own anyways, due to the cost increase of buying the Bosch, but wanted to clarify the discussion. Thanks for the response Keith.