sidevalve5Hi Charlie,
Sadly, I have tried to use the forum in the way it is intended. But have been met with either apathy, or at times a degree of negativity. It is one of several reasons that has formed the decision of not to renew my membership next year.
You are correct, a condenser and a capacitor are different words for the same component. Condenser was what they were called in the early days, the electrons are concentrated or condensed on the plate and not allowed to pass to ground. They are ‘held’ there until the moment of discharge. So the component has ‘capacity’. For some reason the word condenser stuck to this name in ignition systems, capacitor with other electrical circuits. The material inside the capacitor is call a dielectric, there are several forms, the one most commonly used in condensers is a roll of very fine wax paper, some have a tin foil between each layer. Both the dielectric and the solder can suffer from corrosion with age, they then become ‘leaky’. The result is a reduced voltage in the primary when the magnetic field collapses, the voltage is then correspondingly reduced at the plug. The condenser is often overlooked when a poor of no spark is obtained. I replace the condenser with a 630VDC 220nF/0.22 µF polyester film capacitor in the first instance unless a mag can give out a 6mm spark at cranking speed.
No more such detailed explanations in the forum from me in the New Year. Think a lot of it falls on stoney ground anyway, so will not missed. I get a lot of positive interaction if I post such a comment in a relevant Facebook group. I enjoy to two-way conversations.
Best wishes,
Grahame
