There sure a lot of different ideas about points and condenser being put on
these lists. They can't all be correct. Here is my 2 cents.
1. Points are NOT supposed to spark any more than necessary. In other words,
there will be a slight spark (like on any switch which is opened or closed
with power on it) but too much spark burns the points and they have to be
replaced.
2. The condenser is to help minimize the sparking and make the points
endure. A bad condenser will cause the points to burn in very short order.
When the points close, they have to carry about 6 volts. (Battery voltage on
a 6 volt vehicle or 12 volts less 6 volts lost through the dropping resistor
on a 12 volt vehicle). No big sparks doing 6 volts.
When the points open, there is a higher voltage induced by the coil. As the
magnetic field decays in the coil it produces the spark for the plug, but
also puts a surge across the points. The condenser is there to absorb some
of this surge and prevent arcing at the points.
Gwyn Reedy
Brandon, Florida
mailto:mgr@mgrcorp.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-oletrucks@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-oletrucks@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of David Handley
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 6:45 AM
To: MKlepp4335@cs.com; old-chevy-truck@egroups.com;
oletrucks@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] Condensor & points Question
The capacitor provides a place for a charge to build up in the "capacitiive
discharge system" before the points break allowing the voltage to discharge
across the point gap. Not sure about the prevention of point arcing. It will
fry a set of points in a hurry. Seems I heard something about excessive
voltage applied to the points being the source of burning up points.
Dave Handley
51 GMC 5 window
-----Original Message-----
From: MKlepp4335@cs.com <MKlepp4335@cs.com>
To: old-chevy-truck@egroups.com <old-chevy-truck@egroups.com>;
oletrucks@autox.team.net <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Date: Friday, September 15, 2000 5:49 PM
Subject: [oletrucks] Condensor & points Question
>Please tell me if I'm wrong - I always thought that the condenser prevented
>sparking (arcing) across the points, it even says that in the AD shop
manual.
> My FLAPS guy says, no. The points are supposed to spark, that's the way
>they work.
>Who's right here?
>I put new points and condenser in my '48 and within a few minutes of run
>time, they had evidence of arcing. I spun the engine with the cap off and
>the spark at the points looked like the spark the plugs should have. (I'm
>still chasing the poor running condition.) Thanks as always.
>Mike Klepp
>'48 3100
>Wichita Falls, TX
>oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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