The engine will then gradually pick up speed. RPM is displayed on the 4 digit display in the 'hut' window. Just like a steam engine the timing has to be set up with the crank being set at a particular angle to the hole in the flywheel. Unlike a steam engine you can set the position that each coil fires at by using the keypad. This allows you to set the speed and fine tune the timing.
Results are encouraging.
The engine runs off a 9V AC adaptor. All the electronics is supplied with a regulated 5V and only the solenoids run direct from the 9V. Current consumption averages out at about 0.25A including the LED displays. The coils do not even get noticeably warm. With more work on the magnetic circuit this could be reduced still further or mechanical power takeoff could be attempted. There is no doubt that incorporating the microcontroller has converted a temperamental fixed speed unit into a flexible and docile unit which could be developed further.