[AT] AT Digest, Vol 28, Issue 7

[szabelski at wildblue.net]

Steve,

The condenser is actually a capacitor, originally called a condenser (probably because a charge condensed internally) and later called a capacitor. There should be no continuity between the condenser case and the pigtail wire. A capacitor is made of two thin sheets of metal that hold a charge until there is a short between the case and the pigtail. The two thin plates are separated by a thin medium that allows the charge to build up to a specified amount. The purpose of the condenser is to store extra energy and give you that little “extra kick” when discharged. 

As I said in an earlier post, it is difficult to check a condenser, it takes special equipment. Even if it passes, there is no guarantee how long it will last since the medium that separates the two plates can fail and allow a short between the two plates. The best thing is to try a different condenser. It just has to be one with the same capacity to store the required charge. 

Carl


----- Original Message -----
From: STEVE ALLEN <steveallen855 at centurytel.net>
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Sent: Mon, 11 May 2020 17:39:06 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: [AT] AT Digest, Vol 28, Issue 7


----- Original Message -----
Message: 7
Date: Sun, 10 May 2020 19:53:23 -0500
From: Phil Auten <pga2 at basicisp.net>
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: Re: [AT] Project Updates '49 A, '51 A, and '47 B (STEVE
	ALLEN)
Message-ID: <168f1f90-8d7a-1eef-e95e-28fb0fa7e41b at basicisp.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

'49A - If your points are clean and reading .5 ohms when closed and .7 
ohms with cardboard separating the points, your points are shorted. With 
the cardboard in, they should read an open circuit, and .5 ohms when 
closed says your contacts aren't making contact well. If you took those 
measurements with the points installed, disconnect them and retest. If 
the points read 0.0 ohms closed and open circuit with the cardboard in, 
then the problem is elsewhere.
'49 A: I forgot to mention, if the points measure correctly outside the 
distributor you may have a bad coil.

Phil in TX

Phil,

Remember that the points set in a Wico X mag is two separate pieces.  If I take them off, I can screw them back together and check for continuity, BUT:  while mounted in the mag,
the fixed one is in contact with the case of the mag, and the other, the one that moves, is in contact with the terminal of the condenser.  Now, let me speculate here:  
the terminal in the condenser does not touch the case of the condenser, right?  So, the two points should not have continuity because the one is connected to the terminal 
and the other is "connected" (through the case) to the mag case.  UNLESS there is continuity inside the condenser.  I do not understand condensers well at all, 
but *SHOULD there be continuity between the case of the condenser and the terminal of the condenser*?  
If not, that may well be my problem (per Cecil).  I will investigate tonight.

BTW, I know that the shaft is turning and that the points are opening and closing:  I have verified that much by turning the crank.

The "original" Steve Allen
Who is avoiding the local Menards


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