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Re: electronic ignition

To: phile@stpaul.gov (Philip J Ethier)
Subject: Re: electronic ignition
From: pwv@tc.fluke.com (Pat Vilbrandt)
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1993 14:34:41 -0800
On Nov 22,  2:13pm, Philip J Ethier wrote:
> > Patrick Krejcik writes:
> > it does happen because the CDI makes a spark with an extremely fast
> > rise time. The inductive coupling of the HT leads just running parallel
> > from the distributor to the plugs is enough to make the spark in one lead
> > generate sparks in the others.
>
> Is this why I have sometimes seen that you want to have your spark plug
> wires cross each other at least once?  Pat?

Well, I guess it would be possible to get a few picofarads or picohenries of
coupling by running plug wires parallel for short distances.  You wouldn't get
enough energy to fire the plug under compression (~10KV), but at atmospheric
pressure you'd only need a few KV... hmmm, I guess if the timing was such that
the "coupled" cylinder was still on it's intake stroke, the weak spark could
be enough to light off the charge, causing a back-fire through the carb(s).

> "Don't cross the beams!" - Ghostbusters

"I don't think so, Tim." - Al of Home Improvement

   Pat Vilbrandt      Fluke Corporation      Everett, Washington USA
   pwv@tc.fluke.COM or: { uunet, uw-beaver, sun, microsoft }!fluke!pwv



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