Hi Mike
Thanks for posting the link to The Magneto Guys site; I had reviewed it earlier and, failing the knowledge/ability to post links/pics, attempted to paraphrase its very clear explanation of the two functions of a condenser in a points ignition system. Hopefully this will support the concept that a functional condenser, no matter how old, is a necessary part of that system, beyond preventing contact point face putting.
I wish I could post pics of both my Commando’s old condensers and the new Lucas units from Eurojamb. The cans have an insulated, threaded center post that fastens to the mounting bracket, which has a spade tab that a red (positive) earth lead connects to. When the threaded fender posts are attached to the grounded mounting plate, there are (phenolic?) insulated washers that allow the threaded posts to pass through, but insulate the metal cans of the condenser bodies from the bracket.
On the old can, there’s another spade lug soldered to the other end of the cans’ body, that protrudes through rubber Lucas
theoretically waterproofs the assembly and provides an attaching point for the pair of wires that parallel-wire the condenser body to the points leads.
The new condensers are similarly constructed, except the can tabs are spot-welded, rather than hand soldered. Put some fellow out of a job.
So, a lot of effort was made to have the center post firmly grounded to the positive earth frame, and to keep the entire rest of the can electrically connected only to the points.
A rough-but-usable comparison, my 1967 Avanti II (yes, they were continued to be built in South Bend Indiana for decades after Studebaker folded their hand in 1964 and wisely exited to Our Canada). The Chevy 327/300 hp V8 purchased from GM to replace the boat anchor/no longer available Stude 289 used the venerable Delco-Remy contact point distributor, and a (although torturous due to the fiberglass body) NEGATIVE ground schematic.
My point (ouch) is that the condenser under that budge of HT wires and distributor cap is firmly screwed to the grounded points breaker plate via a spot-welded bracket, while the carefully insulated wire from the condenser’s center point is attached to the contact point arm, again, insulated to prevent ground contact until the point cam allows this to be so.
Same with Fords and…was going to say Mopar, but only God knows how that works. I’m not partisan.
All this engineering and manufacturing effort must have followed a purpose, and I propose it was to accommodate the reversed ground schemes, and thus suggests polarity.
Also wonder if we have a spanned/wrench linguists dialogue going on with dielectric/electrolytic? That above my pay grade…I’m an RN. Time to hit the books.
Apologies for the length…I didn’t have time to make it shorter. Did I reach 1000 words? Also time to pay my membership and become link/pics enabled.
Cheers,
Marc
