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So I have a 12 volt timing light and a 6 volt truck. can I use a 12 volt external battery for the timing light and clamp around the #1 plugwire and not smoke anything?
So I have a 12 volt timing light and a 6 volt truck. can I use a 12 volt external battery for the timing light and clamp around the #1 plugwire and not smoke anything?
Yes. In fact that's the only way it will work. Just make sure the 12 volt battery is fully charged because the strobe cap likes to see over 12 volts. (They are designed for running engines).
So I have a 12 volt timing light and a 6 volt truck. can I use a 12 volt external battery for the timing light and clamp around the #1 plugwire and not smoke anything?
You better ground the 12V battery to somewhere on the truck before you smoke yourself. This is in addition to the two leads from the timing light.
You better ground the 12V battery to somewhere on the truck before you smoke yourself. This is in addition to the two leads from the timing light.
Not recommended. The strobe capacitor is charged from the 12 volt source. The inductive signal to trigger the capacitor is separate and isolated from the capacitor through a thyristor. Adding an additional voltage potential could smoke your timing light. The timing light doesn't draw much current but if you will be using it for a prolonged period I'd recommend connecting a battery maintainer to the 12 volt battery
My old Sears timing light manual specifically says to ground the external battery to the vehicle being timed to avoid getting a shock.
The operative word there is "old". It is obviously uninsulated and has a shiny metal case. My "old" (1972) red plastic Snap-On timing light has no such instructions.
So I have a 12 volt timing light and a 6 volt truck. can I use a 12 volt external battery for the timing light and clamp around the #1 plugwire and not smoke anything?
According to these posts you don't have to do anything, but I think it depends on the type of timing light you have.
How long have timing lights been around? Were DIY portables available in the 30s, 40s and 50s?
How did they work prior to the advent of transistors and the rest of it? Seems to me some kind of Neon bulb would handle the flash part easily and these have been around forever, getting one bright and focused enough to be useful another matter.
I have an ignition timing light that operates on 2 D cells, by Flaming River. It isn't fancy, but it always works. Maybe not a super bright Disco Inferno, though gets the job done.
How long have timing lights been around? Were DIY portables available in the 30s, 40s and 50s?
How did they work prior to the advent of transistors and the rest of it? Seems to me some kind of Neon bulb would handle the flash part easily and these have been around forever, getting one bright and focused enough to be useful another matter.
I have an ignition timing light that operates on 2 D cells, by Flaming River. It isn't fancy, but it always works. Maybe not a super bright Disco Inferno, though gets the job done.
All thru the '60's we used the kind that is just a neon bulb, put in line with the #1 plug wire. Worked just fine, and couldn't care less about vehicle voltage or polarity. I got one at a garage sale about 10 yrs ago for a buck, gave it to an FTE'er who is still 6v.
Yep. My first timing light, which I got sometime in the '50's, had two spark plug wires that you attached in series with the #1 plug wire. Used white chalk on the pointer and damper.
Mixer man - You are right about my old timing light - it has a shiny metal body. So I will continue to ground mine, but those with plastic insulated bodies won't have to.
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