Saturday, March 19, 2011

MSD ignition vs Blue Phoenix Ignition modules

Does the Ionfire Ignition system from Blue Phoenix replace MSD  ignition or existing CDI systems that is already installed?

In short the resounding answer is no.  The Ionfire Plasma spark amplifier supplements MSD, Crane or AEM ignition systems. They are not meant to replace MSD or any CDI module.

One of the most frequent reactions I get when I introduce the Ionfire plasma ignition module from Blue Phoenix Ignition to racers and engine builders is confusion with regards to the MSD system or equivalent CDI system from AEM to Crane that they have already installed. Racers and engine builders often misunderstand that the Blue Phoenix Ionfire Ignition amplificaition system somehow is meant to replace MSD and nothing works better than MSD so there is no point spending money on untested technology. 

Lets get to the basics. An ignition system can be divided into two sections: the primary side and the secondary side.  Virtually all ignition systems from MSD to Crane focus exclusively on the primary side of an ignition.

The primary side refers to the primary windings of the ignition coil. When current flows through the primary windings of an ignition coil it creates a magnetic field which collapses once the current is switched off creating a high voltage output on the secondary side of the ignition coil.

The primary side current of the ignition coil is switched on and off using a transistor or capacitor discharge system. The primary side current can be rapidly pulsed to create multiple high voltage sparks on the secondary side, and the timing of the current signal can be advanced or delayed. Virtually all major OEM's and ignition electronics manufacturers have products that exclusively  hook up to  primary side of the ignition system.

Blue Phoenix's Ionfire Ignition current amplifier on the other hand  is the first of its kind secondary side spark amplification module. The Ionfire plasma amplifier from Blue Phoenix Ignition amplifies the secondary spark AFTER it has been generated by existing on board CDI boxes and ignition modules from MSD or any other brand and is therefore compatible with all existing ignition modules.

Ionfire modules do not fire the primary side so there is absolutely no need to replace your existing ignition electronics. 


It constantly amazes me how the importance of electrical energy and a strong spark doesn't seem to be appreciated racers and engine builders. From an electronic standpoint, a conventional racing ignition is an inefficient device.  Further, the spark itself is small and often poorly delivered, producing small flame kernels and a delayed start in combustion. This produces large variations in combustion from one cycle to the next.


So racers and engine builders do not worry, the blue phoenix ignition plasma modules are not meant to replace your precious MSD systems but dramatically improve its efficiency and energy output.

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Blue Phoenix Ignition --- What is it and why racers need it!!!

Racers and engine builders typically consider MSD ignition as state of the art. However the basic CDI technology behind MSD is over 40 years old. This blog should help racers answer their questions they have about high energy plasma ignition and understand the benefits and advantages of installing plasma ignition modules from blue phoenix ignition.


Common ignition problems facing racers today:



Racers across all classes currently face a range of problems with low energy output of current ignition systems. For example Top fuel, funny cars and blown alcohol or nitro methane engines frequently suffer from misfires as a result of the flame being put by a weak ignition spark. Misfires cause severe damage to engines resulting in blown head gaskets, hydraulicing cylinders as well as back firing in the case of super chargers. Current Magnetos also create a lot of horse power drag. In bracket racing, circle track, dirt track racing etc maximum horsepower and torque gains are never met because current multi spark ignition systems only fire multiple sparks up to 3000 RPM. Above 3000 RPM all existing racing CDI systems put out a single spark which is sufficient to ignite the fuel however the flame front barely has time to expand and transfer heat before the exhaust cycle starts. This results in a drop in horsepower and torque at higher speeds a competitive disadvantage. All current ignition systems are also extremely inefficient in that they convert less than 10% of the electrical energy input to a high voltage spark that is essentially a thin channel of plasma that is barely visible to the naked eye.

How does the spark amplifier modules from blue phoenix solve the challenges that racers face with regards to current s ignition systems?

Blue Phoenix Ignition has a unique high voltage secondary side spark amplification system that amplifies the high voltage spark generated from a standard racing ignition CDI module or magneto to a high energy plasma spark. The innovative technology behind the spark amplification module is based on Jet Turbine Ignition and Pulsed Plasma thrusters used to power satellites by NASA. . The plasma spark amplification system discharges a pulse of DC current exceeding several hundred amps amplifying the plasma kernel of a standard ignition spark to a very high energy plasma spark that creates a large corona, a highly dense energy filed that completely surrounds the spark plug tip along with a burst of photonic energy. The peak power output is in the megawatts and the RMS or average power output is in the kilowatts. The very high energy plasma kernel that can only be described as a bolt of lightning, is virtually impossible to putout and thus eliminates the problem of dropped cylinders as well as loss of power at higher RPMs or spark blow out in the case of high compression engines. The corona ignites a substantially larger amount of fuel in a single instant initiating a massive flame front that rapidly expands through out the combustion chamber allowing timing to be adjusted toward Top dead center thereby increasing engine efficiency. The energy dense corona generated by the sparkamp module from blue phoenix is powerful enough to ignite water mist. We encourage the readers of this blog to watch our video online at our website www.ionfireignition.com

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