Electrical Experts - Question re. Capacitor installation

[Kunz, Bob]

As someone else pointed out a capacitor in series is a DC block, so that clearly doesn't make sense.

Your assumption about it being in parallel is correct but you also need to remember that the ignition circuit is switched, so you will have an initial large current draw at ignition on and an very slow (due to internal resistance and ignition module draw) discharge when the ignition is off. I would not advise your mod.

The ignition system is designed to build a field slowly and then collapse that field quickly. As the field collapses the induced voltage in the secondary is what makes the spark. If you connect a capacitor at the coil terminals, you will defeat the very nature of how a coil works. I hope you meant connecting the capacitor on the battery side of the points or the ignition module (depending on your car). But then you have the problem as pointed out above.

If you are having trouble providing a spark at high RPM's, then you should consider a new aftermarket ignition system.

--bob
'86 5Ks Avant
'02 TTQR
'06 GTI
'07 Q7


The Halloween Ghouls made Ben say:

> Is it OK to install an electrolytic cap.