Super A 6V vs 12V Condenser?

The condensor is more of a current and energy absorbing passive device then anything thats voltage related or voltage sensitive or voltage dependant. Its job is to prevent premature burning up of the points and it does that by serving an as empty well/bank just sitting there waiting to accept the inrush of electrons that occurs when the points break open and the coils current reallyyyyy yy wants to keep flowing somewhere, and its absorbing of them prevents as much arcing n sparking across the points which would quickly burn them up.

NEXT some coils are labeled "12 volts for use with an external ballast resistor" and if so they are in reality a 6 volts coil in which case an external voltage dropping (12 to 6) ballast resistor is required or else the coil overheats and the points burn up quickly. A true full 12 volt rated coil (some call internally ballasted) is labeled 12 volts or else 12 volts NO ballast required,,,,, ,,,, Sooooo if thats the coil you have (true full 12 volt) dont use any ballast. HOWEVER if otherwise add one.

Its possible that condensors can break down and especially when they warm up, so since they are much cheaper then a coil anyway, Id try a new one if in doubt. If she still has problems after warm up then Id suspect the coil or the points among other things.

Hope this helps understanding of the condensor and why one used on a 6 or 12 volts system is most likely the exact same thing. Its NOT true that all condensors are 6 volts, they have a voltage withstand rating muchhhhh hhh higher then 6 or 12 anyway as the voltage spike across them when the points break open is also muchhhhh h higher then that as Bob explained.

Take care yall n God Bless

John T Retired Electrical Engineer

The change from 6-Volts to 12-Volts does NOT require a different condensor.

They are simply wound with more wire in the primary, to function on 12-Volts.

It is not the VOLTAGE rating of the coil (or points) that causes them to burn or fail, it it the excessive primary circuit CURRENT that results when there is not enough resistance in the overall primary circuit to limit closed-point current to 3 to 4 Amps. Current beyond that range will overheat and "kill" the coil, and BURN the breaker points.