Condenser wired to ignition coil?

[KANEIT]

I seem to have a condenser wired to my ignition coil post and earthed nearby. What is the purpose of this?

Cheers.

[GreenV8S]

If you have mechanical points, you'd need a condenser (capacitor) to prevent the points arcing and create the spark. Usually it'd be connected across the points but there's no reason it couldn't be connected at the coil. If you have electronic ignition the capacitor isn't strictly necessary but could have been added to reduce radio interference.

[heightswitch]

KANEIT said:

I seem to have a condenser wired to my ignition coil post and earthed nearby. What is the purpose of this?

Cheers.

In the olden days you used to buy surpressors to prevent radio interference? Is it not one of them?

N.

[KANEIT]

Ah thanking you kindly! I have the conventional condenser in the distributor so was wondering what the heck it was.

[tegwin]

What actually hapens if you dont have a condensor?


Unless I have one hiding somewhere in the dizzy? I didnt see one when I took the loom appart :s

[GreenV8S]

tegwin said:

What actually hapens if you dont have a condensor?


Unless I have one hiding somewhere in the dizzy? I didnt see one when I took the loom appart :s

If you have a mechanical points system there will usually be a condenser right next to the points. The condenser prevents the points from arcing and also produces a much stronger spark. If you have an electronic points system you wouldn't normally expect to see an external condenser, but one could have been added to reduce radio interference.