> From: TONY NIXON 54964 <Anthony.nixon@eng.monash.edu.au>
>
> I would like to drive an ignition coil from a PIC as simply as
> possible and I was considering using the VB027 coil driver from
> SGS Thompson.
>
> However, as is usually the case in Australia, the part is hard to
> get. :-(
>
> Any one got other parts ideas.

I once built the Dick Smith (and others) 'Transistor assisted ignition'
kit.  This worked like a charm.  I would suggest looking into this.  The
relevant parts of the circuit could be extracted and modified to use the
PIC TTL output levels rather than the old 'points'.  The critical component
is a suitable high voltage transistor (or MOSFET, these days).  I'm not
sure what the flyback voltage gets up to on the primary side, but I think
300V would be sufficient.  You would probably want a device in a TO-3
package and insulate it well from ground since the collector cops the full
flyback voltage and it's usually connected to the case.  Also, pay attention
to overvoltage protection in case the spark plug lead comes loose.

There was a really interesting article on this sort of thing in Circuit
Cellar Ink a while back (less than 14 months ago).  Some bloke developed
a high performance ignition system using a microcontroller (not PIC).

Regards,
SJH
Canberra, Australia