Hello, I need help with this. I need to turn an old bike lead-acid battery to a model glow plug driver. I think the current must high in order to get the glow plug glowing. Could i use a power transistor and a zener? Any help is welcome!
I obviously can't speek for anyone else on the forum but to design a circuit it might be helpful if you could tell us the voltage and current requirement of a glo plug. I was thinking they were 1.5 volts. Perhaps you could apply a 'standard' supply to one and measure the current drain to get this project going.
Yes, i think Gene is right, they are typically 1.5 volts
for models, for motor car diesel engines 12 volt is
normal.
I suppose various trucks or lorries might be 24 volt.
This is taken from here: http://www.lakelandaero.50megs.com/glo_plugs.htm
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Your battery should heat the plug to a nice bright
orange or red orange color; if the plug glows white
hot, it just isn't going to last.
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They do them at 3 volts for models.
I didnt know that.
Yes the voltage that a glow plug wants is 1,5V. I just said 2 because my battery (the x-cell 5Ah battery) was 2 volts (the guy from whom I bought it said that it is a 1,5V).
When i measured the resistance of the glow plug it was 1 ohm. So 1,5V/1=1,5A. And i allso measured the voltage of the bike battery and it was 7volts.
In short:
Energy source: 7V 4Ah battery
Glow plug: 1,5V 1,5A
I think it's good idea to make the converter at least capable of supplying 2A @ 1,5V. Or any better ideas?
Easily done with a 555 timer with a variablem-s ratio to give the requisite current......... followed by a power transistor or mosfet
If you struggle with finding a cct let me know I'll dig mine out.........
Glo plugs work at around 15-2v with a current draw of some 4 amps