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Thread: Ignition coil polarity explained...

  1. #1
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    Ignition coil polarity explained...

    I have always hooked up the ignition coil on standard ignitions the way you are supposed to. Power+, and negative to the distributor. Someone brought it up, and I started to wonder why? I stumbled across this article, and it makes perfect sense now. Never really thought about it much before, but it's good to know.

    http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/ignition/ig104.htm

  2. #2
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    So since the body of the spark plug is grounded, that makes the side electrode negative. Electrons travel from negative to positive. To me that says the electrons travel from the side electrode to the center electrode. The secondary of the coil is referenced to the + terminal. So how does this work?
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


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    Only someone like Nikola Tesla could know. I will never know enough about electricity. It is FN magic!
    There are 2 schools of thought on electron flow. Magnetism is even a bigger part of electricity, and with Tesla's AC, the electrons are switching directions, at any frequency, at any voltage, at light speeds, and makes the magic happen. We are surrounded by AC waves, and it travels around the earth 7.5 times in one second, and beyond. It makes me feel stupid. Just check out the
    electromagnetic spectrum. They never mentioned that, or Tesla in school. Why?
    Last edited by 55 Rescue Dog; 11-23-2018 at 04:54 PM.

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    Registered Member BamaNomad's Avatar
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    Electrons move from negative to positive, but holes move from positive to negative...

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    As for the direction of the current, when the "points" open, the collapsing magnetic field in the transformer (coil) gives the pulse in the opposite polarity compared to the polarity of the circuit of when the magnetic field is being charged with the battery.

    Voltage on the primary side of the coil when the magnetic field collapses is also much higher than the 12 volts supplied to it. If it doesn't scare you, try touching the two terminals with just a single D cell and feel the shock it gives you on the primary side when you disconnect the battery. That higher voltage is then multiplied even more in the HV winding of the coil. The purpose of the condenser (capacitor) is often debated, but I'm with the group that says it's there to help *absorb* that voltage spike from arcing across the points and causing premature failure.

    I'm going to have to try that pencil test, it looks pretty cool!
    Tony

    1955 Bel Air Sport Coupe

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    test
    Tony

    1955 Bel Air Sport Coupe

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    Registered Member carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)'s Avatar
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    had a 49 dodge that was positive ground. never did get that,HPIM0944.JPG but loved that car. HPIM0940.JPG
    ARMY NAM VET, very proud!

    56 210 4dr

    drive and enjoy them while you work on them, life is to short.

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    There are some good animations on how ignitions systems operate.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEmSFDn8Rlw

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    They are good, thanks.
    Tony

    1955 Bel Air Sport Coupe

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