Low speed ignition system

A capacitor discharge type ignition system for an internal combustion engine has a secondary charge coil mounted on a ferromagnetic core adjacent to a primary charge coil and an ignition coil, and means for selectively providing current from a battery to the secondary charge coil to increase the charging of a capacitor with the fly back voltage of the secondary charge coil when the current supplied to it from the battery is interrupted or terminated to increase the charge stored by the capacitor at low engine speeds and thereby facilitate starting an engine at very low engine speeds. The battery provides additional energy necessary to provide ignition and starting of the engine at very low engine speeds and can also be used to provide power for other functions, such as to electric starting of the engine, or to power other auxiliary features of the machine powered by the engine. Advantageously, the secondary charge coil is not regulated and excess power discharged from the secondary charge coil is directed to the battery to recharge the battery and maximize its life.