TOPIC:

Kawboy wrote:

Just remember when you go shopping at the electronics store, it is a Darlington transistor and if you can upgrade it to carry just a little more power than the spec for the 162, it would be a good insurance thing. Take all 3 transistors with you so they  (can determine if they are NPN or PNP transistors.



 

Just to add to this.... if you really wanted to go crazy, you could choose exotic semiconductors that have less of a voltage drop (than typical silicon) across the transistor junction, which would deliver more power to the load.  A Silicon darlington-pair would have a 1.4v (0.7x2) junction drop - assuming there's a Germanium darlington-pair in an appropriate package/power rating, the voltage drop would be 0.6v (0.3x2).  This assumes the coils could accommodate the extra power - which may be another can of worms.

I have asked about transistors in Facebook groups with mixed answers.

One guy responded to me that it will be almost impossible to find the same transistors since they were made exclusively for Kawasaki.

Another gives me the solution with replacing it with a 41A Darlington BU941z.

Another one that makes the replacement with two TO-26 type transistors.

I keep receiving messages...

kawaBCN wrote:

I have asked about transistors in Facebook groups with mixed answers.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the internet where anyone can say anything with no previous experience or foundation for the knowledge that's being presented. You have to take everything with a grain of salt and question everything that you're being told.
 It's a challenge.
One guy responded to me that it will be almost impossible to find the same transistors since they were made exclusively for Kawasaki. 
In many cases this can be a true statement, although usually the "part" will be assigned a brand part# and in this case, the part in question has a part # that would suggest it's a manufacturer's part number and similar to similar transistors of similar values as transistors currently made.  You have an example with EXT162 stamped on the case. There are several transistors currently made with numbers like tip162, tpo162 as examples and they fall in a category of transistors operating at 400 volts and 10 amps which would be very similar to what is used in this type of application. That's why I have inquiries out looking for a cross reference to an EXT162 and find out what suppliers can come up with.

Another gives me the solution with replacing it with a 41A Darlington BU941z. 
The BU941Z could probably be used since it's a 350Volt 15 amp transistor but I, not being an electronics expert would struggle on just how to properly insert it in this circuit. There are 3 pins on the BU941Z - Emitter, Base and Collector and I'm not quite sure how to hook up the 5 wires. The yellow with red stripe would be attached to the Emitter pin. The trigger voltage from the pick-up coil (one of the green wires, not sure which one)would be attached to the Base pin. The blue wire would be hooked to the Collector pin and that leaves the system ground (black with yellow stripe) and the pick-p coil green wire  (the negative green wire from the pick-up coil ) and I'm not sure exactly where they need to be attached.
Another one that makes the replacement with two TO-26 type transistors.
Whoever told you this is way off in left field. the TO-26 is a 1 amp transistor and in no way could it or 2 of these be used. Like I say the internet will tell you anything and you have to do your homework.

I keep receiving messages...

The Carmo unit was designed by an electronics expert and it's a tried and true working model. The expert was made aware of the stock igniter shortfalls and then he designed the Carmo Igniter to better handle the switching loads and be more dependable.

The other option I mentioned is the using of the 3 General Motors High Energy Ignition Igniters 4  pin units and it's a straight forward wiring. There are several mods done using these units and they work great. Not as pretty as a stock igniter unit or the Carmo unit, but a very well functioning system that's simple. Best part is if one of the 3 igniters fail, you can just swap it out.

It's all part of the journey. Welcome to my world where I take on challenges like this for fun. It's part of my self teaching experiences. I get into all kinds of things. Keeps my mind active. As I "try new things" I post my experiences on my topic "Kawboy's restoration/ conversion of a 1980 KZ1300" which unbelievably  has been viewed over 51000 times. 







 

About the possibility of mounting three CDI units.

In another message they told me about the option of mounting three CDIs in parallel from a Honda Rebel or Suzuki GS 500 type twin-cylinder engine.

The alternative spare parts market is quite reliable.

kawaBCN wrote:

About the possibility of mounting three CDI units.

In another message they told me about the option of mounting three CDIs in parallel from a Honda Rebel or Suzuki GS 500 type twin-cylinder engine.

The alternative spare parts market is quite reliable.

Be carful when you go shopping. These are not CDI units (Capacitor Discharge Ignition) . They are igniters ( or sometimes spelled Ignitors). They are triggered by a VR sensor (Variable Reluctance) the Vr sensor generates between 0 to 8 volts approximately. The Darlington transistors in the stock igniter turn on at 5 volts and depending upon the output voltage  from the VR sensor, remain on (which is dwell time) longer when the voltage peaks up higher which happens at higher rpm's.
There are some igniters which require a digital voltage signal which is generated by a Hall sensor or by an output from a engine control module. Hall sensors are supplied with a 5 volt power supply and the Hall sensor turns on /off that 5 volt supply.

There's something really funky with the stock Darlington Transistors you have taken out of the igniter. They are can type transistors and all of the can type transistors I've come across are 2 pin transistors. The ones you have pictured have a phenolic resin board back plate and I wonder if it's some kind of circuit board on top of the transistor and hiding a few resistors. It's so unusual for a transistor to have 5 pins.

Kawboy wrote:

There's something really funky with the stock Darlington Transistors you have taken out of the igniter. They are can type transistors and all of the can type transistors I've come across are 2 pin transistors. The ones you have pictured have a phenolic resin board back plate and I wonder if it's some kind of circuit board on top of the transistor and hiding a few resistors. It's so unusual for a transistor to have 5 pins.

This week I will take my Darlington transistors to be checked by an acquaintance of mine who has spent his life repairing television sets and radios, I will have an accurate diagnosis of how those parts are.


Meanwhile I continue receiving messages and supposed solutions to replacing the Ignitor.