Moving condensor to outside the dizzy?

[Huntsman]

I fitted a new condensor yesterday and today it failed...Brill!

On my car, its really a dizzy out job to change it, that requires setting the timing again, bit of a faff!

Is there any reason why I cant fit the condensor external to the dizzy? All I have to is secure it to ground by the tag on the end, fit a spade terminal on the wire and plug onto the terminal on the HT coil with the points wire.

I could have a spare sat there ready.

A breakdown becomes a 1 min stop.

We used to do this on Lambrettas in the 80's using Yamaha YPVS twin condensors.

[markymarkthree]

The Mk3 Cortina with a Bosch dizzy setup had it on the outside as std so i cant see why not.

[spikeyhead]

Working solely with a knowledge of physics, the further away from the points to the condenser the quicker the points will wear. Possibly not at a fast enough rate to cause problems, but worth keeping an eye on it.

[TonyRPH]

As long as there is a good connection, there should be no issue with this.

An additional short piece of wire of the same gauge won't make any difference to the operation of it.

[Carnage]

I’ve done that with my Alfa GTV for the last five years. Relocated it to above the coil and took a feed directly from it.

Before then condensers failed annually, not had an issue since.

[Nyloc20]

My mechanic mate did this on a friend’s Elan Sprint a while ago and it’s been trouble free. I’m going to have the same done on mine next time it’s in for service.

[Huntsman]

I'm told these are very good.


https://swiftune.com/parts-shop/ignition/swiftune-...

[fourfoldroot]

You could always convert it to contactless using an accuspark kit. This does away with the condenser and has other benefits. Costs around £35 which is not much more than the condenser you linked to above.

[coetzeeh]

Moving to electronic ignition makes so much sense. Not the cheapest option but I fitted 123 dizzy set up and it almost feels odd for a 55 year old Alfa with 4 carbs to start instantaneously. All the usual ignition worries goes away.

[markymarkthree]

coetzeeh said:

Moving to electronic ignition makes so much sense. Not the cheapest option but I fitted 123 dizzy set up and it almost feels odd for a 55 year old Alfa with 4 carbs to start instantaneously. All the usual ignition worries goes away.

Fine until it lets you down and you probably don't carry a spare set-up with you.
Eg.
1976 IOM TT week, running a Lucas Rita system on my BSA Rocket 3. It failed and i had the pleasure of AA Relay from Douglas to Bristol.

5 years ago, Stealth Agrospark rotor arm failed in Cornwall on my Mk3 Cortina, i got son to post me a points & condenser set-up and refitted that, with Agrospark going in the bin. I now carry a spare points and condensor.

[fourfoldroot]

I keep the original points,condenser etc and instructions in a bag stashed in the car. Simple enough to change back with just a screwdriver.

[tapkaJohnD]

The ONLY function of the condensor is to prolong the life of the points, from about 1000 miles to 6K+.
And a condesnor fails in two ways - it ceases to condense, whereupon the ponyts wear faster, or they conduct, which will short circuit the points and bring you to a halt.
But then, just removing the condensor will get you home. Unless you have driven to Constantinople.

No need to carry spare condensors!
John