Overview
ISO 6518-2:2024 - Road vehicles - Ignition systems - Part 2: Electrical performance and function test methods - is the third edition (2024) International Standard that specifies test equipment, conditions and bench test methods for distributorless battery ignition systems used in internal combustion engines (automotive, marine, motorcycle and utility engines). The document focuses on electrical performance and function test methods performed on a test bench only (it does not cover in‑vehicle or in‑engine measurements and is not applicable to aircraft ignition systems).
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard defines how to measure and evaluate ignition system electrical parameters and the required test setup. Important technical topics include:
- Scope and system types: single‑ended coil‑on‑plug (COP) and coil‑near‑plug (CNP) configurations; conventional induction or transformer coils; modern switching devices (typically IGBT).
- System load modelling: specified capacitive and resistive loads and a Zener diode string to simulate spark plug, cable and fouling conditions (typical reference: 20 pF capacitance for COP simulation; 1 MΩ ±1%, 10 W non‑inductive resistor to simulate fouling; low voltage coefficient ≤0.0005 %/V).
- Key ignition parameters (Clause 6) - standardized measurement procedures for:
- Available secondary (spark) voltage
- Secondary output (open‑circuit) voltage
- Minimum available (loaded) secondary voltage
- Secondary feed‑forward voltage at primary switch‑on
- Zener discharge current (peak spark current), duration, voltage and energy
- Primary current (peak coil current) and average input current
- Primary and secondary energy, coil secondary risetime, peak coil primary voltage
- Spark timing delay, dwell time/dwell angle
- Test equipment (Clause 7): voltage probes (HV voltage dividers), oscilloscopes, current probes, DC sources, signal generators, secondary loading hardware and recommended test bench setups.
- Test procedures (Clause 8): detailed bench measurement techniques for secondary voltage, spark energy and miscellaneous diagnostics; guidance on documenting deviations from the standard test conditions.
Applications and users
ISO 6518-2 is intended for professionals and organizations involved in ignition system development, validation and quality testing:
- Automotive, motorcycle and marine ignition system designers and test engineers
- OEMs and Tier‑1 suppliers validating distributorless battery ignition performance
- Test laboratories performing bench certification and R&D qualification
- Component manufacturers (coils, IGBT drivers, high‑voltage cables, spark plugs)
Using ISO 6518-2 helps ensure consistent, repeatable electrical performance characterization of ignition systems and assists in comparing designs, diagnosing failures and meeting customer or regulatory test requirements.
Related standards
- ISO 6518-1 - Road vehicles - Ignition systems - Part 1: Vocabulary (terminology referenced by ISO 6518-2)
- Other parts of the ISO 6518 series (see ISO catalogue for the full series)
Keywords: ISO 6518-2, ignition systems, distributorless battery ignition, coil‑on‑plug, coil‑near‑plug, electrical performance, test methods, secondary voltage, bench testing.