Re: super HEIC

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 6:40 AM
Subject: super HEIC


> Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<herwig.roscher-at-gmx.de>
>
>
> Hello,
>
> I just read an advertisement, stating that MSD Ignition (part of
> Autronic Controls Corporation) manufactures ignition coils for
> dragsters, stock cars, speed boats and tractors for pull competitions
> (translation?) which deliver voltages as high as 65 kV. Each coil is
> tested at 50 kV for 15 minutes prior to delivery.
>
> Maybe one of you lucky Americans could grab such a jewel. URL is
> www.msdignition-dot-com
>
MSD does make rugged well insulated ignition coils and components (I run
them on my 280Z), but they are pretty pricey..  The bottom end "Blaster 2"
lists for around $60.  The last time I priced the high end coils they were
>$100..  You might do better buying reasonable quality ordinary HEI coils
for $10-20 and "upscreening" them (i.e. buy a bunch and test the bejeebers
out of them, throwing away the bad ones).

For those of you needing a reliable ignition source for various things (gas
mixtures, etc.), a MSD6A can be easily triggered from a lab pulse generator
on the  "white wire" (electronic ignition/trigger/tach input).  I wouldn't
use one for a triggered spark gap, because of the multi spark discharge
(MSD) at low rep rates..

Translation of tractor pull...

Back in the pre motorized vehicle days, farmers would get together and hitch
their team of mules,horses, or oxen to a sledge loaded with rocks. They'd
(attempt to) pull the sledge over soft soil for a short distance (50-100
meters). He who could pull the distance at the maximum weight won (or
fastest, etc.)  When tractors came into being, they just updated it. It's
pretty high tech these days.. the sledge is designed so that the "drawbar"
load increases the farther you pull it (by shifting the weights).

The tractors are quite interesting.. they run diesels, with multiple stages
of turbo or supercharging, with manifold pressures up in the 300 psig (20
bar!) range.  Obviously, a diesel wouldn't use an ignition, but there are
people who run ordinary (?) "fuel motors" running nitromethane and so forth.

Unlike a normal drag race, where the cars go 300 mi/hr (500 km/hr) in 1/4
mile (400 m), and it's just a blur as they whip by (although, mighty
impressive), in a tractor pull, the tractor sits there straining, putting
out thousands of hp, until either the engine fails, they run out of time, or
they get the sledge past the finish line.  Bring your earplugs.  See the
manifolds glowing red hot. See pieces of molten engine parts spew out the
exhaust stacks.  All great fun, but much more expensive than tesla coiling
(to do and to watch)..