Super mag III and IV

Why don't more people run ...say a supermag IV with blown alky motors? What kind of mj do they put out? Read that a mag IV puts out a hair over 4 amps which is more than a msd 10, why would it not be better than a msd 10 if not the 20amp and 44 amp mags?

 

It seems like a lot of people are attracted to MSD's because of all of the extra features available with them. I wonder how many that buy MSD's because of those features actually end up using them. I prefer Supermags just for the KISS factor, also if you have a problem it is pretty easy to diagnose, rather than having to send 2 or more units back to MSD to have them diagnose. It kind of makes you a slave to MSD IMHO.

 

The more cylinder pressure present (boost and/or compression), the more voltage it takes to jump the gap in there. The Mallory and MSD mags can't be compared to one another by primary current. They are different designs totally, and it's voltage and current at the plug that count, not the primary side of the mag. You can compare two Mallory's ok by current, or two Vertexes to one another or two MSD's to one another. But not apples to oranges.

Millijoules is an accepted way to measure the energy of the spark. But it can be manipulated and become misleading too. Since it is a measure of electrical "work", the calculation for millijoules also involves TIME. So, you can have a mega-spark that is very brief measure 500mJ and a very weak, low voltage spark that lasts a long time measure 500mJ. In an advertisement, they could both claim 500mJ and be truthful! You need enough voltage to jump the gap in your application, and while spark duration is a good thing, you can have too much. Either it is wasted energy (nothing left in there to light) or you risk crossfire in the cap. Coupling the wrong coil with a mag can make so much spark duration, there isn't enough "off time" to insure that crossfire doesn't happen. If spark duration is too long, that means there is energy there that would be better spent on voltage and not more time.

People measure mags by their primary current for a couple of different reasons (in my opinion) even though it's flawed. It's cheap, easy and safe. Another reason is that it can look really good on paper! My maxed out 5.5amp Super Mag IV's make pretty much the same voltage and current at the plug (sometimes more) as MSD 12's that I also service and test. My maxed out 8.5amp Super Mag V is right about the same poop at the plug as an MSD 20. 12 amps and 20 amps sure sounds a lot better than 5.5 and 8.5. It doesn't hurt the marketing end of things for MSD at all The waveform of the MSD mags is pretty superior though. The big capacitors necessary on the Super Mags to keep the points from arcing hurts the rise-time of the spark. It doesn't build to the voltage required to jump the gap as quick. Instead of a vertical peak, the Super Mag spark has a little bit of slope to it on a scope. Personally, I don't think that's a huge deal.

When I pretest or final test a mag, the output report doesn't just include primary voltage and current but also secondary voltage and current under a certain load at a precise RPM so that I can compare the mag to others on an even playing field. Actually, to itself too...it better be as good or better when it leaves as when it came in (That's why everything gets a pretest). That's how I make sure I'm comparing basketballs and bananas in a meaningful way.

I can't speak to the MSD 10...never tested one. I think the biggest reason why more blown motors (under 25 PSI boost) aren't running Super Mag IV's is because they lack the bells and whistles that the MSD products have.

Spud
www.fuelinjectionent.com

 

I Agree with the other poster, it seems like msd has a lock on the mag market and every time I call with a problem and get a diff. tech person I get a diff answer. Spud would a supermag V work with my bbc 14/71 psi making 40 lbs boost? My msd 10 works so far just checking my other options yaknow?

 

You'd be better off calling http://www.brmotorsports.com/ or http://www.electrimotion.com/main_body.htm about your msd mag than talking to Pedro, Jeroldo or Jesus. Ive got V magnets in a III I think? works with #43 boost BBC

 

Spud, glad you jumped into this conversation with some facts from your experience. Yes indeed the millijoule is a measurement of work, like the work one watt can do in one second. It's also a good way (not perfect) to compare different ignitions which the manuf try to confuse.
I'd sure be interested in you testing one of the MSD 10 plus units. I've run a number of different ignitions over the years including mags. I'd like to see if the MSD 10 Plus is really as good as I think it is or has proved to me.

The ignition technolgy in the 10 plus combined's the inductive (Mag) and the capacitive ignitions into one. And in fact they call it a Capacity/Inductive discharge ignition which is accomplished through there new Stacker (coil) ignition technology. This allows the quick recovery and the long duration spark (20 to 30 degrees crankshaft).
So your getting the best of both worlds. I'm really impressed with it's performance.
Hopefully you'll be able in the near future to test it yourself .

Hope your business year is a good one.
Blessings.........Ron Clevenger.

 

What kind of ingnition controls are availible for the mallory mags, retards, rev limiters, etc.?

 

Dunn makes an offset magdrive with an air retard.

Autometer makes a rev limmiter.

PSI use to make a rev limmiter for the mallory mags as well .

I have a 2step that I had on my vertex mag, Hilborn injected bracket car years ago that I used only once ,I didnt like it ,it was as if you limmited the rpm by turning the ignition switch off and on, It scared the crap out of me ,I was afraid that it would either break the crank or hydraulic the motor!
I have run vertex . mallory III and IV and MSD 44 and I will say this the first three were very simple and reliable, and they do have one feature that the MSD doesn't , you can set the timming with a buzz box without the engine running!
I know a guy that runs a promod that has the 10 plus in his car but still keeps a few mallorys in his trailer just in case

 

Super Mag

Did you say Autometer makes a rev limiter for the Supermag??
I have the PSI limiter but it is just a centifugal type, when it hits the limit it grounds the mag. Not the greatest way to limit rpm, it just loads the cylinders with fuel, etc , its nasty.
I like my supermag but the lack of rev limiting has me looking at the MSD.

 

Id call autometer first but I am quite sure that I have seen them on cars with mallory mags before.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Auto+Meter/105/5302/10002/-1

 

Here's a better link...
http://www.autometer.com/cat_accessoriesdetail.aspx?vid=85

and it says its for a super mag

 

Jody we run a Supermag V on our Rodeck with a 14-71 HH making about 48 pounds of boost. I send it out in the off season to get serviced but I have not had any problems yet.

 

Spud Miller @ FEI is very talented,..I sent him a vertex that was bairly making 1.3 amps,..
and without breaking my bank, and understanding
what I was intending to run for fuel,and engine combo,
Spud took my Vertex and turned it into a solid, reliable, and trouble free magneto that makes 5.22 amps

Here is the dyno sheet that spud Provides, before and after...




Thanks again Spud,,...
Spud is also a wiz with Fuel injection, flowing, rebuilding, configuring,
and recommendations,..what ever your needs are, very imformative,
Total customer satisfaction Gauranteed.

Vic Miller

 

Super mag

Thanks Blown 375. I called Autometer and their box just cuts the ignition off as though you stabbed the big red button.

I'll pass on that.

 

we run all mallory mags and we use the autometer rev limiters they work GREAT and we use a signal converter for our computer..as for retards I use all of Mike Dunn stuff..it is fool proof...tire shake don't hurt my six shooter..Dave
www.myspace.com/daveloweswr

 

rev mallory

Here try Hank @ etcrevlimiters.com best thing Ive found for mallory ,consistant rev control and more .( No ground out) psi ,auto meter I had them all . tel tach is also a real good tach (only.) ditgital though ,freezes highest rpm after shut down speedway motors has them.

 

super mag

Now that is a true rev limiter. I'm ordering one right now.

 

Rev Limiter

Does anyone have a price on these?

 

super mag

$465.00 for the dual range/w rpm switch.

Corey

 

thanks