Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL}
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From: NotCal
Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL}
Okay fellas,
I'm always getting questions about how the Autronic CDI unit is better than MSD when they both output the same voltage.
Well, I'm no engineer, but I want to share my explanation with you all, so you can understand why the Autronic is so much more expensive.
As many of you know, the R500 uses a falling, or "-" edge to trigger, while other brands such as MSD for instance use a "+" edge.
This is set up in the software of your ECU.
On the surface, this seems like a small item, with little consequence. However, as I will show you, it is of great importance.
When most people compare CD ignitions, they look at the available voltage output of the CD box. The Autronic unit has a similar amount of available voltage output to the coils as most other units. However, the voltage is definatley NOT the most important part of the equation.
More important, is the amount of current, or amperage the unit can fire the coil with.
The coil needs high pressure {or voltage} to jump across the gap of the plug.
However, how far or how high one can jump depends primarily on the muscles in one's legs, right? Therein lies the key difference in the average CDI and ours.
Ignition systems use something called Transistors to turn on and off electrical circuits.
The transistors used to swicth the igniton circuits on and off can be one of two kinds.....NPN, or PNP meaning "Negative-Positive-Negative", and "Positive-Negative-Positive" respectively.
A standard NPN transistor is what is used in most all low current switching circuits in computers and igntion systems. These systems can relay relatively high amounts of voltage, but cannot pass very much current at all.
The Autronic uses the PNP type transistors in the switching circuits that drive the coils. This allows the CDI to rease the same amount of voltage to the coil as everyone else's brand, but at neraly twice the current.
This is why we can fire coils so much hotter than anyone else on the market!
Think of voltage as the pressure at the end of a water hose, and current as the amount of water coming out of the hose.
The Autronic units have a much higher "Forward Current Transfer Ratio" which allows a ton more "water to come out of the hose" at the same "pressure".
Kinda like having a bigger turbo, with the same boost pressure.
Also the capacitor that is used to store up this energy is double in a 500R compared to what MSD uses.
I apologize for the legnthy post, and any errors I may have reported, but I hope this will help explain a little bit better the advantages of selling a 500R over any other CDI!
-Ben
I'm always getting questions about how the Autronic CDI unit is better than MSD when they both output the same voltage.
Well, I'm no engineer, but I want to share my explanation with you all, so you can understand why the Autronic is so much more expensive.
As many of you know, the R500 uses a falling, or "-" edge to trigger, while other brands such as MSD for instance use a "+" edge.
This is set up in the software of your ECU.
On the surface, this seems like a small item, with little consequence. However, as I will show you, it is of great importance.
When most people compare CD ignitions, they look at the available voltage output of the CD box. The Autronic unit has a similar amount of available voltage output to the coils as most other units. However, the voltage is definatley NOT the most important part of the equation.
More important, is the amount of current, or amperage the unit can fire the coil with.
The coil needs high pressure {or voltage} to jump across the gap of the plug.
However, how far or how high one can jump depends primarily on the muscles in one's legs, right? Therein lies the key difference in the average CDI and ours.
Ignition systems use something called Transistors to turn on and off electrical circuits.
The transistors used to swicth the igniton circuits on and off can be one of two kinds.....NPN, or PNP meaning "Negative-Positive-Negative", and "Positive-Negative-Positive" respectively.
A standard NPN transistor is what is used in most all low current switching circuits in computers and igntion systems. These systems can relay relatively high amounts of voltage, but cannot pass very much current at all.
The Autronic uses the PNP type transistors in the switching circuits that drive the coils. This allows the CDI to rease the same amount of voltage to the coil as everyone else's brand, but at neraly twice the current.
This is why we can fire coils so much hotter than anyone else on the market!
Think of voltage as the pressure at the end of a water hose, and current as the amount of water coming out of the hose.
The Autronic units have a much higher "Forward Current Transfer Ratio" which allows a ton more "water to come out of the hose" at the same "pressure".
Kinda like having a bigger turbo, with the same boost pressure.
Also the capacitor that is used to store up this energy is double in a 500R compared to what MSD uses.
I apologize for the legnthy post, and any errors I may have reported, but I hope this will help explain a little bit better the advantages of selling a 500R over any other CDI!
-Ben
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From: Hot Hot Heat, AZ
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (EFIGUY)
hmmm....ive been thinking about picking up a CDI for my SMC. hey ben, do u have any of the autronic nissan trigger disks in stock?
Good post and explanation!
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From: NotCal
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (javierb14)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by javierb14 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmmm....ive been thinking about picking up a CDI for my SMC. hey ben, do u have any of the autronic nissan trigger disks in stock? </TD></TR></TABLE>
No, thats a bit of a low volume item. I have used them in the past, and they work well, but it will take about a week to get one from OZ.
No, thats a bit of a low volume item. I have used them in the past, and they work well, but it will take about a week to get one from OZ.
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From: NotCal
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (EFIGUY)
The disks are about $60 {I believe} and the CDI retails for $799.00
I could maybe get them to do a group buy or something if about 5 guys wanted one??????
-Ben
I could maybe get them to do a group buy or something if about 5 guys wanted one??????
-Ben
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From: NotCal
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (SEFI8LOxCivic)
They are actually two quite different units.........although they both have similar output strength, the Motec CDI 8 is designed to be used as both a stand alone spark computer, or as a slave to the ECU.
The CDI 8 has eight individual coil outputs which is really nice.
The downside is the pricetag......the CDI/8 sells for $2430.75, plus $450.00 for the harness.
Of course, Honda users do not have a need for 8 coil outputs, but Motec does not offer a four channel CDI.
You could buy their dual channel CDI and run waste spark, but that costs 646.00 plus the harness.
The Autronic 500R CDI has four individual channels, perfect for hondas, and sells for $799.00 with the unterminated harness included!
The CDI 8 has eight individual coil outputs which is really nice.
The downside is the pricetag......the CDI/8 sells for $2430.75, plus $450.00 for the harness.
Of course, Honda users do not have a need for 8 coil outputs, but Motec does not offer a four channel CDI.
You could buy their dual channel CDI and run waste spark, but that costs 646.00 plus the harness.
The Autronic 500R CDI has four individual channels, perfect for hondas, and sells for $799.00 with the unterminated harness included!
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From: Anaheim, CA, USA
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (EFIGUY)
Oh well...I will only complain when my msd box goes out. Then I can borrow one from bullish racing or steph...and some of the other 6 sec. 1500hp meth. powerd cars 
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From: NotCal
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (ninesecrx)
ha ha.........
hey there are lots of good products out there that can get the job done.
only one can be the BEST though......
Its lonely at the top!
hey there are lots of good products out there that can get the job done.
only one can be the BEST though......
Its lonely at the top!
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From: Dallas, TX, USA
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (EFIGUY)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EFIGUY »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">only one can be the BEST though......
Its lonely at the top! </TD></TR></TABLE>
Sure is, motec sitting up there all by itself
Its lonely at the top!
</TD></TR></TABLE>Sure is, motec sitting up there all by itself
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From: CT, USA
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (EFIGUY)
what else would u need to make this sytem work. I currently run hondat and looking for another engine manegment. I was looking at Aem cause it had boost controller and traction controll built in. Can u please list the options about 500R CDI
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From: NotCal
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (25 PSI CRX)
The 500R is only a CDI Ignition system, not a standalone engine management system......
Autronic makes a line of very high quality engine management systems that are very economical......
the SM2 is the race version with multi-staged gear dependant boost control, traction control, two-step rev limiter, anti-lag, auto-tuning and more....all for 1889.00!
Autronic makes a line of very high quality engine management systems that are very economical......
the SM2 is the race version with multi-staged gear dependant boost control, traction control, two-step rev limiter, anti-lag, auto-tuning and more....all for 1889.00!
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From: Anaheim, CA, USA
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (EFIGUY)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EFIGUY »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The 500R is only a CDI Ignition system, not a standalone engine management system......
Autronic makes a line of very high quality engine management systems that are very economical......
the SM2 is the race version with multi-staged gear dependant boost control, traction control, two-step rev limiter, anti-lag, auto-tuning and more....all for 1889.00!</TD></TR></TABLE>
Thats what im running in the car. We finally got some in car came footage and I was watching the gauges. Of course we have datalog on every run that comes with the Autronic built in for that price, but it was fun to see. The Autronics built in 2 step is super quite and I feel U could stay on it all day at the line...other comp. wont be able to try and burn you down. U can see that you can make boost on the line real quick and it sounds almost mellow. ANd watching the boost gauge per gear, its pretty cool to see how rock steady the gauge gets which is all controlled by the autronic as well. I give it my thumbs up!
Autronic makes a line of very high quality engine management systems that are very economical......
the SM2 is the race version with multi-staged gear dependant boost control, traction control, two-step rev limiter, anti-lag, auto-tuning and more....all for 1889.00!</TD></TR></TABLE>
Thats what im running in the car. We finally got some in car came footage and I was watching the gauges. Of course we have datalog on every run that comes with the Autronic built in for that price, but it was fun to see. The Autronics built in 2 step is super quite and I feel U could stay on it all day at the line...other comp. wont be able to try and burn you down. U can see that you can make boost on the line real quick and it sounds almost mellow. ANd watching the boost gauge per gear, its pretty cool to see how rock steady the gauge gets which is all controlled by the autronic as well. I give it my thumbs up!
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From: portsmouth, va, usa
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (EFIGUY)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EFIGUY »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">HAHA.....
Don't MAKE me pull out my EFI TECHNOLOGY stuff homey!
</TD></TR></TABLE>lol $$$$ i think the harnes cost more than the motec
Don't MAKE me pull out my EFI TECHNOLOGY stuff homey!
</TD></TR></TABLE>lol $$$$ i think the harnes cost more than the motec
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From: Severn, MD
Re: Why Autronic 500R CDI is better than MSD....{For Mike Laskey, LOL} (EFIGUY)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EFIGUY »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Autronic uses the PNP type transistors in the switching circuits that drive the coils. This allows the CDI to rease the same amount of voltage to the coil as everyone else's brand, but at neraly twice the current.</TD></TR></TABLE>
How does the use of a PNP double the available amount of current?
How does the use of a PNP double the available amount of current?