Camera Flash + Ignition Coil

[VEGEMITEMODDER]

Hi all

I was looking through the forums after a better way to fire my combustion cannon and found the HVC1 ignition system that uses a disposable camera and an old ignition coil.
So I went down to the local Chemist and you know what they said? "Ah sorry we can't give you one because we send them back to the factory and reload them" Yeah right. So anyways I went looking through my boxes and boxes of junk and came across an old self contained National flash , so I put some batteries in it (6xAA) and it worked really well.
After I pulled it apart I found a great big capacitor about three times the size of the ones in the Kodak maxes and so I wanted to find out if there is a limit to how much charge these ignition coils can take ? Because I don't really want to blow up my coil .

Thanks

[SpudStuff]

you wont blow the coil

[flyingspuds2007]

if an ignition coil can take a dead short across a car battery, which has a lot more power than a camera flash, then it can survive.

[VEGEMITEMODDER]

ok then thank for your replys

I am having trouble connecting it all up I have 2 main wires going to the flash tube and a bit smaller White wire.
I can't seem to get a spark out of the coil i'm not sure where the white wire is supposed to do, has anyone out ther got any I idea? or am I supposed to use the white wire?

thanks

[FiveseveN]

Your best choice IMO is to wire the coil in series with the bulb (between the bulb and a main wire, not the white one). The white wire is used to partially ionize the gas inside the bulb, so the flash can trigger. This way, you can push the flash trigger to fire.
Alternatively, you can discharge the cap through a heavy duty switching system like a SCR into the coil.

[VEGEMITEMODDER]

Sorry this might sound a bit stupod but I don't quite get what you mean

[VEGEMITEMODDER]

somthing like this?
(sorry for the awfull dawing)

[GalFisk]

Keep the small white wire going to the flash tube as well, it is the trigger wire. When connected as in the drawing, the coil will spark when you trigger the flash.