1) The distributor rotor does NOT make and break the high voltage. It only connects the power to each wire in turn during the fraction of a second or so when the points are closed. It is the points which make and break the low voltage, sending a pulse through the coil resulting in a high voltage spike at the output synchronized to the position of the switch (rotor). there is no power on the rotor when it is between contacts.
2) Spark coils for non-racing passenger cars almost never exceeded 20-22 kV. Spark coils in the 30kV+ range for cars were almost exclusively an affectation of the racing community.
3) The energy handled per spark is very low (<< 1 joule), otherwise the points would quickly spot-weld = end-of-game. Remember, the ignition systems sole purpose is to provide just enough power in tiny bursts to ignite the fuel/air mixture.
As has been mentioned, it might be workable for a very low power coil, but it's a physically large piece of equipment for a small coil, but if you have a "Rube Goldberg"* mind-set, then go for it!
Matt D
* for those too young to remember, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine
-----Original Message-----
From: Co60bishop <co60bishop@xxxxxxx>
To: tesla <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, Apr 17, 2014 1:27 pm
Subject: Re: [TCML] car distributor as rotary gap
I am confused by Jim's comment. The distributor definitely does make and break
high voltage. The center of the distributor cap is one high voltage connection
and then tie the outer spark plug wire connections together for the second
connection. You can use a 4, 6, or 8 cylinder distributor and experiment with
how many spark plug connections you use depending on the RPM of the motor
spinning the rotor if you like. The distributor is designed to make and break
upwards of 30KV.
Allen Bishop
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Lux <jimlux@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thu, Apr 17, 2014 4:21 am
Subject: Re: [TCML] car distributor as rotary gap
David Boyle wrote:
I'm designing an srsg with an 7" phenolic disc and 4 tungsten points
spun at 1800rpm by a half horse motor modified to be synchronous. Our
transformer is 10Kv at 60ma. However a member of my team thinks that a
rotary spark gap can be easily made from a distributor cap and rotor
from a car. Is this possible?
you can try.. but I'm not sure it will work very well. A distributor is
designed more like a rotary switch: it doesn't carry any high voltage
except when the rotor is near one of the electrodes. That is, it
doesn't make and break the HV.
If you search the archives, I'll bet someone has tried it, though.
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