Glow plug driver

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Glow plug driver

This topic has 6 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 12 July 2020 at 11:17 by Robert Atkinson 2.

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11 July 2020 at 20:56 #485098
Steve G
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@steveg24616
Hi,

I have just completed a build of a flat 4 cylinder 4 stoke engine that uses glow plugs. I did think about using spark plugs but I thought that glow plugs would aid simplicity.

However, trying to find a circuit diagram online for a 4 x glow plug driver is proving fruitless. Does anyone have any idea where I could find such a diagram? I have looked at the option of buying a 4 x glow plug driver, but funds are limited and they are expensive devices.

I have found a single glow plug driver diagram online and perhaps modifying it to drive 4 plugs, but not sure if it would have sufficient current to drive 4 x mosfets.

I may have to revert to using 4 single cell batteries attached individually if all else fails.

Any ideas would be gratfully received.

Regards

Steve
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11 July 2020 at 20:56 #2581
Steve G
Participant
@steveg24616
11 July 2020 at 21:44 #485107
John P
Participant
@johnp77052
Hi
Contained withing this thread from 2012 by Phil W
"Pneumatic brake for CNC rotary table"
will lead you to his site here which
has a circuit for a 9 cylinder version of
what you need .

http://philsradial.blogspot.com/2013/02/glowplug-driver.html

Don't Know if this will be of any use to you but may be of some use

in a modified form.

John
11 July 2020 at 21:49 #485110
Steve G
Participant
@steveg24616
Thanks John,

Just looked at the link. I will look into that one. I will have to practice my arduino programming skills.

Thanks again.

Steve
11 July 2020 at 22:48 #485117
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Just make a lead acid battery………

Most car batteries fail because one cell alone has died so a bit of examination and a drill finds the inter-cell connections to use one of the cells on its own.
12 July 2020 at 07:19 #485134
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Does not need a fancy circuit, just connect all the electrodes together and to your supplies +ve and take the negative to the head or crankcase.

Take a look at Dean's V12, just a brass bar connecting all the plug electrodes on each bank.
12 July 2020 at 11:17 #485187
Robert Atkinson 2
Participant
@robertatkinson2
Hi,

You only need fancy drive circuitry if it's a flight engine where weight and endurance are important.

Phils radial engine circuit has issues, particuarly the 0.47uF capacitor across the gates of the MOSFETs. This stresses the mocrocontroller outputs and keeps the MOSFETs in their linear region longer increaing heating and battery consumption. Fo a simple sequential switch a couter decoder like a CD/HEF 4017 or 4022 would be easier to use.

For a flat four I'd run the plugs series / parallel. Put a link / busbar between the two plugs on each side then connect the battery (or other source), with a voltage twice the rating of each plugs, between the two links. The crankcase will be at half battery voltage but as long as the battery is isolated tthat is not an issue.

For bench running a transfomer can be used, glow plugs don't mind if power is AC or DC.

Robert G8RPI.

Edited By Robert Atkinson 2 on 12/07/2020 11:34:34
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