Distributor cap resistance.

[matthew_leech]

I'll try and keep this intro to my question short.

I shorted out and destroyed my lumenition magnatronic ignition.

I bought a powerspark kit (dizzy, coil and Aldon amythyst) but couldn't get it to work (that's the long story cut short)

In my frustration I have purchased a Swiftune CSI dizzy. (Not tried this yet)


After ordering the CSI Unit I built up a test loop on my bench, to try and get the powerspark dizzy to at least make a spark. I could get a spark with the plug coming straight off the coil. This led me to the cap, and more specifically why I got a shock when I tried to get a spark with the dizzy cap fitted.

Upon investigation the carbon 'brush' in the centre of this dizzy cap measures 1kohm seems very high?

So I pulled my old cap out to see what that was 0.05kohms (the brush defiantly appears metal not carbon in this cap)

So I thought it must be the cap,

However the CSI unit has an identical cap to the powerspark dizzy, but giving 0.2kohms resistance.

Now I am yet to try the CSI unit and it may well work, however I am just after a little more knowledge about it, as it has left me rather puzzled!

If anyone has any more in depth knowledge on this, it would be greatly received!

[Milo]

1kohms is not that high as the spark voltage is so high it will jump the gap in your distributor.
Can only think that the plug lead needs to be in line with the appropriate point on the rotor arm and the spark plug needs a positive or negative earth from the test battery. You would also have to apply 12v on and off your coil to obtain a spark

[Spider]

You'll probably find the new ones have a coating on them which doesn't conduct too well, but will wear off in short time.

I tested a number of caps (for the 45D4 series) a while back, looking for those with the best insulation ad support for the carbon, I actually found those in the green Lucas box to be the best, though none were brilliant.