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Why are there so many different CSI ignition types?

We provide our CSI distributors with the correct original appearance.

And due to the differences in the engine structure (e.g. compression ratio) and sometimes also environmental requirements, different advance curves have been applied. CSI-ignition has taken this into account and uses these specific curves as a basis, which were therefore prescribed for a particular engine / car. We did, however, adjust the curves here and there due to the newer possibilities and insights. A modified engine needs a different carburation and ignition setting, this can be achieved with our programmable CSI-PRO-ignition. The adjustment and programming on a rolling road session is also very easy.

Is the vacuum advance effective at the CSI-Ignition?

– Yes, the vacuum types are equipped with a vacuum sensor, depending on the vacuum, the CSI will give extra advance, usually about 10 -15 degrees.
Around idle speed, the CSI ignition will ignore these vacuum values for better idling.

What is vacuum advance and how does it work?

– In addition to the speed-dependent advance (also called centrifugal advance), there is also a vacuum advance that can provide extra advance. The vacuum of the intake manifold is used for this, which is in principle always present when the engine is running, but not (anymore) when the throttle valve is fully open.

– The vacuum value is actually a measure of the motor load. At partial load, the maximum amount of mixture does not enter the cylinder, so it is desirable to ignite the mixture earlier. (vacuum advance) No vacuum advance is applied to racing and rally bikes (often full throttle only). Vacuum advance can help improve combustion / emission values and make the engine run more economically / smoothly at partial load.

Ported or Manifold vacuum?

– Ported vacuum is a vacuum connection from the carburettor as with the SU carburettors.

In the idle position of the carburetor, it shuts off the vacuum supply to prevent a vacuum from occurring at idle speed.

– Manifold vacuum is the vacuum connection directly connected to the inlet manifold, so also in idle position of the carburettor, vacuum to the distributor. Because the CSI ignition ignores these values around the static speed, it is still possible to use vacuum advance in this way, also with other carburettors such as Webers.

Rev. Counters

–  There are 2 different types of electronic rev counters that where used in classic cars.

1 – Voltage controlled, (like Smiths RVC) which is the most common type, where the pulse input is connected to the pulse output of the CSI (on the black wire / minus connection of the ignition coil)

2 – Current controlled, this was used in the past (like Smiths RVI), it works on current pulses from the ignition coil, a wire loop on the back of the counter (sometimes inside) provides the pulses via an internal transformer. If the counter is not functioning properly, you can reverse the direction of the loop.

Coils:

There are a lot of different coils on the market,
You have to take care about the primary resistance value (3 or 1.5 ohm)
Do not use a ballast resistor and bypass the resistor wire if fitted.

CSI types and the associated ignition coils

• CSI Standard 4 and 6 Cylinder
  (16 pre programmed curve’s)
  use a 3 Ohm coil like the
  Lucas DLB105 or the
  Bosch Blue  part no.
  0-221-119-27
• CSI-Standard V8
  (16 pre programmed curve’s)
  use a 1,5 Ohm coil, like te
  Lucas DLB110 or the
  Bosch RED part no.
  0 221 119 030
• CSI-PRO
  use a 1,5 Ohm coil, like the
  Lucas DLB110 or the
  Bosch RED part no.
  0 221 119 030

  In fact a 3 Ohm coil can be used, but only for low rev’s.

High Voltage Leads:

We advise to use good quality silicone cables, with a resistance about
2 Kohm to 5 Kohm
pro lead, to reduce  radio frequency interference (RFI) produced by the spark being radiated by the wires, which may cause malfunction of sensitive electronic systems in modern vehicles or interfere with the car radio.

In fact, you can / may use copper leads when there is no observable problems.