<VV> intermittent spark

[Andy Clark]

Hi, Harry. I understand LC circuits.
It may be a small (all things being relative)induced voltage without the
cap, but it's enough to run the engine- not that I'd recommend doing so on
the street.
I was taking issue with the absolute statement "no cap, no spark". No
offense intended.
The discharged cap does absorb some of the energy induced across the points
when they open, thereby suppressing a lot of the spark intensity. With no
cap, or an incorrect value cap, one gets material transfer from one side of
the points to the other.

Best Regards
Andy Clark
1966 140/4 Monza Sedan
1966 140/4 Yenko Clone
1966 180/4 Cord 8/10 #60

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Harry Yarnell"
To: "Andy Clark"
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: <VV> intermittent spark


> Adding a capacitor to the ignition circuit forms an LC (inductance,
> capacitance) circuit, which GREATLY enhances the high voltage spike that
is
> created when the points open. You will get an induced voltage in the coil
> without the cap, but it's small.
>
> Harry Yarnell
> Perryman Garage and Orphanage
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Andy Clark"
> Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 12:13 PM
> Subject: Re: <VV> intermittent spark
>
>
> > That's strange, Harry. I have a distributor running (temporarily) in my
> > test
> > engine (on a stand) with no internal capacitor and it works just fine.
> > The internal capacitor is to prevent (or at least slow down) the erosion
> > of
> > the points contacts by absorbing the breaking arc.
> > Regards
> > Andy Clark
> > 1966 140/4 Monza Sedan
> > 1966 140/4 Yenko Clone
> > 1966 180/4 Cord 8/10 #60