Date:         Wed, 1 Sep 2004 13:31:00 -0700
Reply-To:     laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Delanty <laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Troubleshooting Opinions Wanted (was: WTB or borrow ECU)
In-Reply-To:  <20040901051234.13531.qmail@web40614.mail.yahoo.com>
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At 10:12 PM 8/31/2004, tabe johnson wrote:

>A spark coil is basically just a transformer, right?
>So doesn't the high high voltage created by the coil
>have to get "back" to the coil after going through the
>spark plug? You have the two low tension wires on the
>coil, just like on a transformer.  You have a a high
>tension output that goes to the distributor.
>But what happens from there?  Does it go through the spark
>plug to ground, which is also connected to the coil body?
--------------------

Tabe,
The "other end" of the secondary is internally connected
to the end of the primary that goes to the points.

When the points open, the return path for the secondary
is through the condenser to ground. Without the
condenser, the spark would have to jump across the points
to complete the return path.

There should be no connection from any of the 3 coil
terminals to the coil body. If there's is, the coil is
damaged.

Steve