7 replies to this topic

[racingbob]

apparently not to use copper leads with the lucas electronic ing.

mentioned it when talking to accuspark and powerspark re enquireing about a new dizzy

 

they said any electronics

[KernowCooper]

Its because electric spark discharges emit broad band radio signals which left unsuppressed can interfere with other electrical components such as a trigger unit or ECU, but it can also make noise on Radio/TVs and even your HiFi speakers, and in the late 50s I believe it became mandatory to suppress cars ignition systems.

[racingbob]

Its because electric spark discharges emit broad band radio signals which left unsuppressed can interfere with other electrical components such as a trigger unit or ECU, but it can also make noise on Radio/TVs and even your HiFi speakers, and in the late 50s I believe it became mandatory to suppress cars ignition systems.

so not even if you use those suppressed caps you screw on to the lead

and use a R rated plug

[Dusky]

If you hate those saxo/nova/... boys with their big boomboom speakers you should run without resistor's, could be fun  

[KernowCooper]

Its because electric spark discharges emit broad band radio signals which left unsuppressed can interfere with other electrical components such as a trigger unit or ECU, but it can also make noise on Radio/TVs and even your HiFi speakers, and in the late 50s I believe it became mandatory to suppress cars ignition systems.

so not even if you use those suppressed caps you screw on to the lead

and use a R rated plug

 

Yes suppressed caps and R plugs would take care of he issue

[racingbob]

 

Its because electric spark discharges emit broad band radio signals which left unsuppressed can interfere with other electrical components such as a trigger unit or ECU, but it can also make noise on Radio/TVs and even your HiFi speakers, and in the late 50s I believe it became mandatory to suppress cars ignition systems.

so not even if you use those suppressed caps you screw on to the lead

and use a R rated plug

 

Yes suppressed caps and R plugs would take care of he issue

 

powerspark didn't like the idea of using them at all

 

so you reckon not a problem if suppressed etc

 

just that would like to get vintage screw on caps

 

for the copper leads, but don't want my module to go again

 

however I had no resistance at all

[KernowCooper]

Should not take the module out, if you get misfiring poor starting then you know there is some interference

[Spider]

RFI (Radio Frequency Interference), which is often a general term used for an electrical interference, can only occur where there is 'sparking' or in some case, a source of some type of AC (Alternating Current), like from an Alternator. The Alternator makes RFI by way of Current (magnetic coupling) and an Ignition System by way of HT (HV) Sparks (where there is next to no current, just volts and lots of them)

 

Just coming back to the Spark creation of RFI and an Ignition System (as found on a Mini, 'Sparking' will generally occur in 2 places, the Spark Plug and the other in the Distributor, from the rotor to cap (as the rotor wizzes around), but in general, anywhere there is a 'gap' across which a high enough voltage will 'jump' across.

 

The Spark Plug won't make any RFI as it is very effectively screened as it it totally enclosed by metal.

 

The Sparking that occurs in the Dissy Cap is very close to many of the electronic dissy parts (like in a 65D4), that the fitting of suppressor parts would only make an academic difference. If they were to make a big enough difference to the spark that occurred here, then there wouldn't be enough of a spark happening where it counts - at the plug!

 

In the case of solid copper leads, unless internally broken, no sparking can occur, so there is no RFI 'generated' from these leads. I fail to see any technical reason why they would make an electronic module (ignition system) fail.

 

Any current drawn by an Ignition System Coil comes down to the LT (12V) resistance through the Coil, it won't draw any more current if the HT side has more or less resistance or even if it is Open Circuit (very high resistance) or Short Circuit (very low resistance), so even considering this aspect, I can't see how it will make an electronic dissy fail.

 

The only advice I've ever had in regards to Electronic Ignition systems is to ensure that the Coil has X resistance or more (ie, not less where it would draw more current, in turn overloading the electronic module).

 

I acknowledge what Accuspark and Powerspark have said, but I'd also like to know the technical basis for their 'advice'.