Re: Condensors all alike?
Can we get technical for a moment on this ?<br />The condensor or capacitor is used to "smooth out" the sharp voltage spikes associated with opening and closing the points (up to 5000 times per minute) this also reduces sparks and the associated burning of the point contacts. These circuits have been around for almost as long as distributors. Condensors or capacitors are rated in microfarads and a maximum voltage rating. These are all used on the primary side of the ignition coil...12V.....so we are not talking about high voltage here (yes, without it there will be some higher voltage spikes). Once again this is a very simple circuit, so most auto and marine condensors are very close in capacitance, if you want to be very particular, take the one off of the boat, along with your "pile" of other ones to a local tv/electronics shop and ask them to measure the capacitance of the original and to see if one in your pile of spares is the same capacitance. Now for the wire issue.....all wire does have resistance and capacitance that is true. In this case, as long as you used good, thick cable running from the distributor to the remote location (keep the distance reasonable...no more than 5 ft of cable) I don't see a problem. Keep in mind that 5 ft of 14 ga wire will be less than half an ohm of resistance and a couple of Picofarads (1/0000 of a Microfarad) of capacitance. In my opinion, the biggest safety issue here is to get the wire out of the distibutor and seal around it, to maintain the explosion proof rating of the distributor.
