[Healeys] coilt induction ingition

[Bob Spidell]

Your recap is correct, AFAIK, but the condenser is also part of a timing 
circuit created when current flows through a resistance and into the 
capacitor (RC circuit).  I don't know the exact theory, but changing the 
value of the cap would likely upset the timing of the spark firing event.

Bob


On 12/28/2016 1:56 PM, Ed O'Neal wrote:
>
> Gents,
>
> By way of recap:  When the points close current flows through the 
> primary (12 volt) side of the coil.  When they open the magnetic field 
> around the coil collapses across the secondary coil windings (high 
> voltage) driving a high voltage current across the plug gap and firing 
> the cylinder.  At the same time the magnetic field also across the 
> primary windings attempting to drive a current across the open points 
> and creating a relatively high voltage (perhaps 400 volts) which will 
> want to arc across the open points and wearing them out quickly.  To 
> mitigate this a condenser (capacitor) is places between the points 
> coil connection and ground which absorbs the “shock” of the current 
> being driven towards the open points and reducing the potential for 
> arcing across the points allowing them to last longer.
>
> Question: Why would a larger condenser (capacitor) not reduce the 
> potential for arcing across the points even more?  What might be the 
> down side of such an attempt???
>
> Thanks for your expertise in advance.
>
> Ed
>
>

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