- Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:13 pm
#6847
Greetings. I just changed a timing belt in a Geo Tracker, which was a huge joy (ha). I need to confirm and perhaps reset the distributor timing now though. I don't have $40 right now to get a timing light for 5 minutes of use, so I thought I'd waste $100 worth of time making one for $5. Which I think is possible.
My plan is to somehow switch a transistor to engage a white LED, which is bright enough to show the timing marks clearly. However this requires some kind of inductive coil around the #1 spark plug wire and the necessary electronics to get the impulse working well enough from that to switch the TIP120's base. (NPN).
I was wondering what might be needed in the way of coil turns, and additional transistors to amplify, or otherwise any other parts needed to tame the wild pulse (any pulse) coming off a plug wire. If anybody can suggest a route or contribute a diagram, would be super helpful. I made a mini-coil to wrap around the plug wire in a clampish sort of way, but there's no flick of my beast, and I could be sending > 5 V down the pipe too...for all I know. Or just .004 AC . I think it might need amplification. This is something I'm not experienced in.
A $5 timing light would be the do-it-your-selfer's pal. Any pointers to the correct path are welcome. I have tons of parts laying around, I just need a recipe, mostly for the impulse input circuit. (I think)
Thanks.
Robert
My plan is to somehow switch a transistor to engage a white LED, which is bright enough to show the timing marks clearly. However this requires some kind of inductive coil around the #1 spark plug wire and the necessary electronics to get the impulse working well enough from that to switch the TIP120's base. (NPN).
I was wondering what might be needed in the way of coil turns, and additional transistors to amplify, or otherwise any other parts needed to tame the wild pulse (any pulse) coming off a plug wire. If anybody can suggest a route or contribute a diagram, would be super helpful. I made a mini-coil to wrap around the plug wire in a clampish sort of way, but there's no flick of my beast, and I could be sending > 5 V down the pipe too...for all I know. Or just .004 AC . I think it might need amplification. This is something I'm not experienced in.
A $5 timing light would be the do-it-your-selfer's pal. Any pointers to the correct path are welcome. I have tons of parts laying around, I just need a recipe, mostly for the impulse input circuit. (I think)
Thanks.
Robert
No PCBs were harmed during the creation of this post.