Condenser Capacitiance.

[flatheadmurre]

A capacitor is like a battery and can be charged and discharged...but in the capacitor coil scenario it would be like trying to power an elevator motor with an AAA battery.
Ignition is about energy...
How much energy is stored in a coil ?
How much energy is stored in a fully charged capacitor of .22 to .36 uF ?
Will the added energy be in the 10% 1% or in the .01% range ??

[Crankster]

Originally Posted by flatheadmurre

How much energy is stored in a fully charged capacitor of .22 to .36 uF ?
Will the added energy be in the 10% 1% or in the .01% range ??

Maybe a better way to think of the condenser is like a shock absorber for the ignition system, it ensures that the break of the primary ignition circuit is clean, no spark at the points. It's "improving" the spark at the plugs in that sense, by directing all the energy where we want it to go.

The correct capacitance range is sort of important because they (points) will last longer. Back when points were in wide use, many mechanics would leave the condenser alone during a tuneup if it was otherwise running well. Either the + or - side of the points would tend to crater or mound if the capacitance was way off the beam.