glow plugs from 12V DC supply

[cheeyw]

anyone here knows the sysmatics to convert a 12V DC to 1.5V DC to operate glow plugs?
thanks

[Dan Baldwin]

Here's a fairly simple glow driver circuit that operates from a 12 volt battery.

http://www.astro.lu.se/~stefans/glowplug.html


Dan

[r4rosal]

hi,
is there any other simpler circuits out there? will it be possible to use just resistors to lower voltage of 12v car battery to glow plug igniter?

i've tried some circuits on the net but none of them works, my plugs all busted now. don't know where i went wrong but all is according to schematics and specs

thanks

[Dan Baldwin]

Yup. You could use a 10 ohm, 10 watt resistor in series with the battery. That would limit the current to about 1 amp, which probably isn't full brightness, but I think it would get your motor going.

Dan

[cheeyw]

will it work if i use a current-limiter to the glow plugs? or a votage regulator or something?
thanks

[Dan Baldwin]

Here's a schematic that shows you how to use an LM350 to drive a glow plug.
http://www.vision.net.au/~timotsc/plugdrvr.pdf

The main problem is thay you will need a big heat sink for the LM350 since it will be sinking about 14 watts.

You could also use an automotive tail light bulb in series. The large element on an 1157 will limit the current to a little under 2 amps.

Dan

[lazy-b]

Guys, I have make lots of Glow Plug Igniter from Cheap one with just 2 diode connected in series with your starter Motor use the voltage drop on 2 diode to power the igniter....to Multiple Resistor connected in series using a alligator clip to adjust current....to 3 terminal Leniar Regulator...to 5 terminal Switching Regulator......to DC to DC converter Modules (12volts input and 5 voltages 10 AMPS output)....Able to trim down the 5 volts to 1.5 Volts....Wow this is the best Igniter, cost only USD 4, at some surplus store.

I hate those Igniter, thats why I installed an on-board igniter on my Scale Helicopter, its automatically actived upon insertion of Shaft Start.....I just hoping to get a pull-start on my Pod and Boom helicopter, to get rid of heavy starter.

click here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303050

like to make an On-Board Igniter that get its power from the Reciever.....see above link for detail.

Guys, I guess efficiency is not the issue here, assuming you are using automotive battery, thats about 50 Ah, the cheapest the just a series resistor, but you have to adjust the resistor value to get a correct amount of current, to improve it, you might add 2 diode in series, and use the diode voltage drop to drive the glow plug, this will just add a little protection to your Glow Plug, cause the 2 diode will clamp the voltages to 1.4 Volts, just make sure you make a main power switch, cause if you just leave it ON, it will drain the whole battery.

Ellion