Condenser

[Tony S,Fl.]

The other day Purdy Swoft showed a picture with a condenser mounted near the coil. It was attached to the red wire on the coil.My question is the coil is hot on both sides. Can the condenser be hot all the time it is not used without damage??? Tony

[Kevin in NJ]

The condenser only does work when the voltage changes.

So in steady state only some very minor leakage current flows depending on type and condition. Also you can charge up a capacitor and take away the voltage and it will store it. That is why some caps you do not want to touch with your finger. They can take a voltage and allow it move out very fast at a high current, this causes a lot of heat. Think finger pop corn.

As soon as the voltage changes the plates exchange electrons to keep things balanced. By there nature they can do the switch fast so it can absorb the high voltage pulse from the coil and prevent the points from burning and the energy in the coil to make spark.

[Purdy Swoft]

Originally Posted by Tony S,Fl.

The other day Purdy Swoft showed a picture with a condenser mounted near the coil. It was attached to the red wire on the coil.My question is the coil is hot on both sides. Can the condenser be hot all the time it is not used without damage??? Tony

I haven't needed to replace this one since I installed it over seven years ago. This is an old trick to get the condenser out of the heat. The condenser remains in the loop and is hot if the condenser is good.

[tbirdtbird]

that is clever, Purdy.....

[Mike V. Florida]

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Originally Posted by Tony S,Fl.

The other day Purdy Swoft showed a picture with a condenser mounted near the coil. It was attached to the red wire on the coil.My question is the coil is hot on both sides. Can the condenser be hot all the time it is not used without damage??? Tony

Electrically the condenser is the same place as stock. It is just in a different physical location.