8
Connecting the Electronic Ignition
The Evolution Electronic Ignition Assembly is designed and engineered specifically for the
small block engine series. It is smaller and lighter so it fits into tighter spaces of the airplanes
the engines are designed to power. The battery voltage required is between 4.8V (4-cell Ni-MH
pack) and 8.4V (2S Li-Po battery) and no voltage regulators are needed with any of these
batteries. We recommend a 2S Li-Fe or Li-Po battery with a capacity of at least 800mAh. The
maximum amp draw at full throttle is 450mA, and our more typical average has been between
250–300mA.
The assembly consists of:
• Ignition module with battery connector, ignition sensor connector, tachometer readout
connector and spark plug connector
• Ignition sensor (already attached to your engine)
• Sensor magnet (already installed in the prop drive hub of your engine)
Mounting Your Electronic Ignition
• You can mount the unit in any orientation
and place that is convenient for your
installation. The module is sized to
conveniently fit into the tank compartment
of most glow powered airplanes alongside
or underneath the recommended fuel tanks.
You can also mount it to the firewall or
under the engine firewall extension if your
airplane is so equipped. Keep in mind that
it should be mounted away from the heat of
the muffler.
• Secure the ignition module to your chosen
location with foam padding to provide
vibration isolation. We typically mount it
conveniently with tie wraps after wrapping
the ignition in lightweight 1/4-inch foam
rubber.
• You may need to route both the spark plug
connector wire and the ignition sensor wire
through the firewall, so be sure to plan
ahead and provide adequately sized holes
that will allow you to pull either the ignition
sensor connector or the spark plug cap
connector through the holes for later
ignition removal.
• Mount a good quality radio receiver type
switch between the ignition unit and the
battery. We recommend the Evolution
3-Wire Ignition/Receiver Switch (EVOA112).
Mount this switch in a convenient place
on the outer fuselage close to the front
of the airplane to make it easy to turn the
ignition on and off. Being able to easily
shut off the ignition is an important safety
consideration.
• For added security and controllability, add
an additional radio-operated kill switch
(such as the Optical Ignition Kill Switch
EVOA100) between the ignition battery
connector lead and the ON/OFF switch.
• Connect the ignition sensor wire to the
ignition module. The sensor wire will only
fit into one of the connectors so you cannot
connect it wrong.
• Connect the ON/OFF switch to the battery
connector lead of the ignition module. This
connector is the red connector.
• If desired, you can connect either the
separately available tachometer readout or
the included Evolution/Spektrum Telemetry
Adapter Cable (EVOA107) to the tachometer
readout connector. Plug the other end of
the adapter cable into a Spektrum telemetry
module’s rpm input port.
• Connect the spark plug connector to the
spark plug. This adapter has a push on and
rotate clockwise 1/6 turn locking mechanism
to ensure a solid connection. If the spark
plug is not secured as described above,
you will likely experience radio interference.
Always perform a radio check with the
engine running to ensure the ignition is not
causing interference with your radio.
• Make sure you charge your ignition battery
and are now ready to operate your electronic
ignition with the engine.
