of a battery 13 a coil 15 and a control system 17 the battery 13 may be the usual automobile battery the coil 15 may be of the type conventionally found in automobile ignition systems the coil 15 includes a primary 19 and a secondary 21 the primary 19 is coupled by conductors 23 and 25 to the battery 13 and to the control system 17 respectively the secondary 21 is coupled to a distributor not shown in the usual manner a ballast resistor 26 may be provided for example between the primary 19 and the battery 13 the ignition system 11 also includes means for providing timing signals as a function of engine speed in the embodiment illustrated such means includes a switch in the form of breaker points 27 the breaker points 27 are shown merely by way of example and any device which provides timing signals as a function of engine speed can be utilized one side of the breaker points 27 is coupled to the primary 19 by the conductor 25 and a conductor 29 the other side of the breaker points 27 is coupled to a reference potential by a conductor 31 in the embodiment illustrated the reference potential is ground as is well known the breaker points 27 have two states i e open and closed the breaker points 27 are driven by the engine not shown with which the ignition system 11 is being used and thus the breaker points 27 open and close at a rate controlled by the.