MO DAY YEAR
Champion Aerospace LLC
1230 Old Norris Road
Liberty, South Carolina, U.S.A. 29657
© 2009 Champion Aerospace LLC
www.championaerospace.com
CHAMPION AEROSPACE LLC PROPRIETARY INFORMATION - Subject to the restrictions on the Title page
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1-2
Both magnetos utilize a relay which, when powered by the controller, electrically isolates the contact
points from coil current. If power to the relay is interrupted, the contact points come back on line and
conventional back up magneto ignition is provided at the standard fixed timing angle. The left magneto
is equipped with a crankshaft speed/position sensor to provide a reference point for the automatic
advance timing feature of LASAR
®
. The right magneto is not equipped with a sensor. Both the left and
right magnetos are completely repairable and supported by component part availability.
The LASAR
®
controller interfaces with various airframe systems and the two magnetos through a Low
Voltage Control Harness (LVCH). This harness includes two bundled wire branches which terminate in
connectors mating to the LASAR
®
magnetos. These two terminated wire bundles are available in
various lengths to accommodate different system installations.
1.3.
MODES OF OPERATION
Initial Power-On
The LASAR
®
controller requires aircraft input electrical power to allow operation in the automatic mode.
When power is applied to the controller, the controller performs initialization and power-up Built-In-Test
diagnostics and illuminates the enunciator light (if equipped).
Engine Starting
The LASAR
®
system will fire both channels (two spark plugs per cylinder) during engine starting when
electrical power is supplied to the controller and the system is operating in the automatic mode. The
first spark is produced when the crankshaft speed/position sensor is triggered twice (360 degrees of
magneto rotation) within six seconds. These “starting sparks” have roughly 300% more energy than
sparks produced by conventional magnetos. The enunciator light (if equipped) should turn off when the
engine is cranking and the controller is operating in the automatic mode. Ignition energy delivered by
LASAR
®
remains at the high setting until the engine reaches 700 RPM, at which time the controller
reduces spark energy to a level roughly equivalent to that produced by conventional magnetos. Engine
timing is controlled to top dead center until engine speed reaches 275 RPM, at which point the system
smoothly transitions to advance timing according to the Engine Personality Map (EPM).
Pre-Flight Magneto Check
A preflight magneto check initiates comprehensive hardware and software tests of the LASAR
®
system,
including backup magneto operation. When the ignition switch is turned from the “BOTH” position to
the “LEFT” or “RIGHT” position, the system automatically switches the selected magneto to backup
operation and if equipped, the cockpit enunciator light becomes illuminated. When the ignition switch is
returned to the “BOTH” position, the system remains in backup operation for approximately 20 seconds
to facilitate engine RPM drop comparison. After the ignition switch has been in the “BOTH” position for
more than 20 seconds, the system automatically switches to automatic mode operation and the cockpit
enunciator light, if equipped will turn off. Proper functioning of the cockpit enunciator light should be
confirmed each time a preflight magneto check is performed. Preflight magneto check PASS/FAIL
criteria is identical to that of conventional magneto ignition systems.
Automatic Mode Operation
The automatic mode is the normal operating mode when there are no faults present, power is applied
to the controller, and the ignition switch is in the “BOTH” position. While in this mode, the controller is
initializing the spark event through the magnetos at the exact ignition timing angle needed to maximize
engine performance. The cockpit enunciator light (if equipped) should not be illuminated.
