I have a 1971 Evinrude 60hp outboard motor that has a stock dual point trigger, a CDI(capacitive discharge ignition)amplifier, ignition coil, distributor cap and rotor. This is a 3 cylinder engine. The CDI amplifiers on these motors are prone to failure from low and high voltage surges(weak battery during cranking, over-voltage during battery charging, jump starting...) and are expensive($300) to replace. I would like to replace the amplifier with a more modern multi-spark unit that is less prone to failure and cheaper to replace.
Here is my problem:
The original units, when working properly, generate approx. 30kv primary voltage to the distributor cap. I've been told that the standard ignition coils increase the amplifier output voltage by 10, so i am assuming the the original amplifiers output potential to be approx. 300V. I don't have an operational amp. to measure.
The new CDI amplifier output is 520V. One fellow i talked to that converted his motor this way, burnt a hole in his distributor cap(that is no longer available), so he replaced the cap and wired 2 ignition coils in parallel, grounding the secondary output of the second coil to reduce the first coils output by 1/2 or 26kv. He said this is working fine for him.
I'd like to install only 1 coil but need to reduce the CDI output from 520V to approx. 260V to achieve a 26kv available firing voltage.
What would be the best device i could use to accomplish this? This would be a very low current application i would think.
Thanks, Tony
Here is my problem:
The original units, when working properly, generate approx. 30kv primary voltage to the distributor cap. I've been told that the standard ignition coils increase the amplifier output voltage by 10, so i am assuming the the original amplifiers output potential to be approx. 300V. I don't have an operational amp. to measure.
The new CDI amplifier output is 520V. One fellow i talked to that converted his motor this way, burnt a hole in his distributor cap(that is no longer available), so he replaced the cap and wired 2 ignition coils in parallel, grounding the secondary output of the second coil to reduce the first coils output by 1/2 or 26kv. He said this is working fine for him.
I'd like to install only 1 coil but need to reduce the CDI output from 520V to approx. 260V to achieve a 26kv available firing voltage.
What would be the best device i could use to accomplish this? This would be a very low current application i would think.
Thanks, Tony