Method of identifying the combustion chamber of a combustion engine that is in the compression stroke, and a method and device for starting a combustion engine

A method of starting a combustion engine having at least two combustion chambers which are in their compression strokes in a determined sequence, and an ignition system having a spark device forming an electrode gap for each combustion chamber, which method comprises the steps of:

• (a) supplying voltage pulses sequentially to each spark device during a first engine revolution;
• (b) measuring a spark voltage of the electrodes gap of each spark device;
• (c) determining from the measured spark voltages the combustion chamber that first will be in the compression stroke;
• and
• (d) based on said predetermined sequence and the determination in step (c) of the combustion chamber that first is in the compression stroke, injecting fuel in the combustion chamber that next will be in the compression stroke.

A starting device for a combustion engine having at least two combustion chambers, which device comprises:

• an ignition system having at least one spark device forming an electrode gap for each combustion chamber, a charging member for accumulating electrical energy necessary for generating a spark in the electrode gap, and an electronic control unit connected to the charging member and adapted to supply high voltage pulses sequentially to each spark device during a first engine revolution;
• a measuring unit for measuring a spark voltage in the electrode gap of each spark device;
• and
• the electronic control unit determining the combustion chamber that first will be in the compression stroke from said measured spark voltages.