The main explanation I've read from time to time is that the positive ground
was because the spark jumps from the negative (center) electrode to the
outer (ground) electrode, and although positive grounding added only the
tiniest bit of additional spark (in theory), it was thereby considered the
best arrangement. Why take 6 or 12 volts away from the plug voltage when
you could instead add 6 or 12 volts??
OTOH, there's no reason negative SHOULD be the ground either - it's just
what we're used to and somehow sounds "logical" (i.e. maybe because it seems
that "negative" and "ground" sound inferior, while positive sounds like the
"important" one ??)
Gee - maybe I'll change my modern cars over to positive ground. Imagine -
24 volts more than my electronic ignition provides now !! ;-)
- Karl Vacek
PS - didn't Henry Ford go under the ground in 1946 ??
On Wed, 14 Jul 1999, vafred@erols.com wrote::
> According to Henry Ford, who was positive ground until 1956, it made
> for much better spark and longer plug life.>>>>
Chip Old fold@bcpl.net replied...
> That doesn't follow. Regardless of low-voltage electrical system
> polarity, high-voltage coil polarity is always arranged such that the
> spark jumps from center electrode to side (grounded) electrode.
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