kawasakifreak77 wrote:
Oh, what's the advantage to adapting the HEI modules verses using the factory Kawi unit?
At low RPM, like when you're kicking it, the HEI igniter will have a shorter dwell than the factory ignition (which is already pretty efficient). The dwell will still be more than long enough to maximize spark, but shorter than the factory ignition. This means there will be less wasted electricity while starting.
When you start the bike, you must charge the capacitor from fully drained to about 10~12v in one kick. This takes energy. By making the ignition efficient as possible, and using no power anywhere else (having lights turned off etc), the capacitor can charge faster and the bike will be easier to start.
The Dyna S pretty much has both coils drawing current continuously (with just enough of a break to cause a spark). While this may be good at 10,000 RPM, it's very wasteful at lower RPMs. The coils only need a short amount of time to charge with current. Any extra time is just wasted electricity and extra heat. The Kaw ignition (with or without HEI igniter) is designed to be efficient while still having enough dwell at 10,000 RPM to ignite a charge.
The reason I use a triggered headlight switch (I use the starter button to turn the lights on) is because the bike will not start at all with the headlight on (and is difficult when any lights are on). I kept forgetting to turn the lights off before starting. Now I have it so it automatically turns off when the motor stops, and only after it starts do I turn it on. You have to give it a little rev when you initially turn the lights on because the light bulbs act like a brief short when you first turn them on. If you turn the lights on with a low idle, it will kill the bike. You just give it a blip and hit the button. Once the lights are lit up, they take far less current.
Thanks again for the cross ref, Mfolks!
