Electronic ignition system

An electronic ignition system for an engine having an ignition coil and points through which battery power normally is switched to the ignition coil primary, comprising:

• circuit transfer means for connecting said battery, said points and said ignition coil primary to said electronic ignition,
• an energy storage capacitor,
• charging means, utilizing power from said battery, for charging said capacitor to a level sufficient to excite said ignition coil,
• switch means, responsive to operation of said points, for discharging said capacitor across said ignition coil primary each time said points are actuated, said discharged energy causing said ignition coil to provide its normal output, so that said ignition coil is operated without switching high battery current to said ignition coil primary via said points,
• said circuit transfer means comprises a relay actuated when the ignition switch of said engine is closed, said relay in the deactuated state connecting said battery to said ignition coil primary via said points for conventional ignition operation, said relay in the actuated state connecting said battery to said charging means, connecting said points to said switch means and connecting said ignition coil to said capacitor and switch means, thereby facilitating electronic ignition operation, said electronic ignition having a fuse in series with the coil of said relay so that in the event of an electronic ignition failure that causes said fuse to blow out, said relay will be deactuated and said engine will operate in the conventional ignition mode.