AQ125A Electronic Ignition PROBLEMS!!!

[jgp321]

1984 Bayliner with Twin Volvo Penta AQ125A engines. Tried converting to electronic ignition but no spark after install. I heard on other forums that people recommend replacing the coil with a 3 ohm primary resistance? Don't know if that will do it. Still using the Bosch coil with 1.8 ohms of primary resistance. Using the Sierra electronic conversion kit. I did not see any Ballast resistor so I attached the red wire to the positive side of the ignition coil and black wire to negative. Anyone else have any ideas or thoughts??

 

[jgp321]

Re: AQ125A Electronic Ignition PROBLEMS!!!

I'm thinking there is a ballast resistor somewhere that is causing no spark. Anyone know where the ballast resistor is located??

 

[captmello]

Re: AQ125A Electronic Ignition PROBLEMS!!!

I'm not familiar with the 125 resistor. Some models used resistor wires as well. Sounds like your on the right track. Can you check the voltage with the key on?

The reason for the internally resisted coil is to protect the coil from overheating, while supplying the ignition with a full 12 volts. the electronic ignition systems need 12 volts to work properly, apparently.

Welcome to iboats, BTW.

 

[jgp321]

Re: AQ125A Electronic Ignition PROBLEMS!!!

Ok I finally found the resistor and it went from the positive side of the coil to the alternator. I disconnected the plug connection at the alternator and tried starting again. Still NO SPARK, very frustrated. I took your advise and measured voltage at the positive side of the coil and it was 24 volts! (two battery system) Are the batteries hooked up wrong? Should they be connected in parallel not series??? Since the ignition coil is a 12 volts system I disconnected a battery and tried again, still nothing... Also the fuse coming off of the ignition switch keeps blowing... Have been running the boat this way the past 2 years and after switching to electronic all these problems.. PLEASE HELP

 

[captmello]

Re: AQ125A Electronic Ignition PROBLEMS!!!

Sounds like a mess.

Sorry, but I'm appreciating my points and condenser right now.

Your going to have to figure out what's wrong. If you're pumping 24 volts into the ignition system,..., well, I don't know what would happen.

The unit may be damaged from the high voltage. But I don't know.

 

[jgp321]

Re: AQ125A Electronic Ignition PROBLEMS!!!

Anybody.... Help...... Should I fix the 24 volt problem first. How do I hook up 2 batteries with 2 positive cables and 2 negative cables. Do you think I fried the electronic ignition with 24 volts at the coil? The points system ran on 24 volts with no problems.

 

[Stuman66]

Re: AQ125A Electronic Ignition PROBLEMS!!!

Anybody.... Help...... Should I fix the 24 volt problem first. How do I hook up 2 batteries with 2 positive cables and 2 negative cables. Do you think I fried the electronic ignition with 24 volts at the coil? The points system ran on 24 volts with no problems.

The batteries should ONLY be hooked up in parallel (positive to positive and negative to negative) thus providing 12 volts with a high starting current and using a 12volt DC charging system. If you had 24 volts at the electronic ignition system then it is most likely fried. I would verify the output of your alternator to ensure the correct hook-up of your batteries.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: AQ125A Electronic Ignition PROBLEMS!!!

Don't know about your brand of conversion module, but here's the troubleshooting and installation manual for the Hot-Spark brand: http://www.hot-spark.com/Troubleshooting.pdf

They're pretty specific about voltage greater than 14.2 and reversing polarity ruining the modules. They also describe resistance measurements across the modules to see if they have failed.

It's possible that yours could be similar.