Crane fireball ignition system

[Zed Head]

This thread isn't really about the Crane system at all.  The OP might be better served to go back to an ignitor until he gets the basics sorted.  Here's a document showing similar to what he's dealing with.  Already pretty complicated.

http://www.jimwolftechnology.com/wolfpdf/280Z31-INJ-MAF-88ECU-UPGRADE-6pg-Revised-12-11-13.pdf

 

[Zed Head]

And, to be clear, when Crane says magnetic trigger they mean a variable reluctor trigger.  Which is a sine wave of varying voltage, from very low (below 5 volts) to very high (well above 12), not a square wave.  Many people do run the GM HEI module on the square wave from the 280ZX turbo ECCS system, even though it's  also designed for GM's HEI magnetic trigger.  Maybe somebody has discovered that the Crane will do the same?  I think we'd both agree that it's not intended for this application.  Not even sure how it got in there unless somebody put together one of those name lists.

This isn't the best learning project for the OP.  But there's a lot of interesting stuff there.

Summit always has the best information - http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/crn-6000-6300.pdf

Edit - wrong part number.  Fixed.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Zed Head

[Zed Head]

The Crane 6300 instructions above imply that the OE ignition module, in the OP's case the ignitor or power transistor, is used to trigger the Crane system.  Basically, the system needs to be set up with the stock power transistor, then the Crane box is inserted in between.  Might be possible to replace the PT, but that's not what Crane is saying.

[Chickenman]

On 5/4/2016 at 10:38 AM, Zed Head said:

The Crane 6300 instructions above imply that the OE ignition module, in the OP's case the ignitor or power transistor, is used to trigger the Crane system.  Basically, the system needs to be set up with the stock power transistor, then the Crane box is inserted in between.  Might be possible to replace the PT, but that's not what Crane is saying.

Yep, I posted all of that information and the link to the full instructions for the 6300 way back in post #6......  The 6300 is designed to be triggered  by an OEM Ignition module which outputs a 12V Square wave to the coil. It cannot be triggered by a directly Sine wave signal.

 The Crane HI-6S is connected at to the  Coil plus and  and Negative leads on the output side of an  OEM Ignition module . It will not work when wired directly to a Dizzy.... of any sort.  The #6300 series do not have any convertor circuitry for Magnetic,  VR , Hall or Optical sensors. It needs an OEM ignition module to convert the signal. That's how Crane keeps the cost down on the #6300 Inductive model. The #6300 is basically a Hi amperage " Piggy Back " Induction box ( much higher amperage capacity than OEM modules)  with Multi-Spark, Rev Limiter  and " Smart "  dwell  control.

The #6400 CDI Series on the other hand,  will work directly off of ANY distributor or Crank trigger wheel, because it has the additional convertor circuitry to trigger directly off of Magnetic ( Flying Magnet ) or a VR sensor, Hall effect, Optical and points. The #6400 CDI box combined with a Crane PS92 coil has enough juice to light a small city!!

 

Edited May 7, 2016 by Chickenman
Spelling & additional info

[Chickenman]

The previous owner probably used the Crane 6300 because it was a relatively low cost upgrade to the stock Turbo ignition system. On a Turbo engine, once you start increasing boost, the stock ignition systems just don't have enough power to keep things lit. A hi amperage Induction box like the 6300 is a good Ignition upgrade choice for a mildly boosted Turbo engine. For higher boost levels the 6400 CDI box may be a better choice, but at a higher cost. There are Pro's and Cons to each style.