Re: Dumb Question
I hope I can help. The first solid state units used the points as a firing mechenism only, later ones eliminated the points and use a trigger mechanism such as magnetic, optical, or other non-friction method which eliminated the points for good. This is the small signal that times the spark. The new and old CD systems are both modular packs consisting of SCRs, Capacators, rectifier diodes, and other electronic components.. Some of the early ones were called amplifiers..they do a couple of things. They first take a current induced by a set of magnets passing by coils in the stator and connect up to the modules. The modules first step is to rectify that AC pulse(s) from the coils to DC in the module. Second it passes the rectified current now DC to charge up a capacitor, old guys like me call them condensors. This capacitor is now charged and is a potential of current ready and able to be discharged into the coil(s) to make the spark at the appropriate time. The external trigger(in the stator) is connected to a SCR (silicon controled retifier) also in the module. This SCR is an electronic switch that when triggered by a very small signal from a circuit in the stator, dumps the current out of the capacitor and discharges it into the coil.
<---some nice guys showed me how to do that
