The dielectric strength of air is about 80 thousand volts per inch. So it takes about half a million volts to generate a six inch arc. That's well within the capabilities of a large Van De Graff static electricity generator; you can buy a $100 Van De Graff that will put out 200 kV. So I find it plausible that a car in a dust storm could get charged up to 500 kV or more.
Now, I didn't see your earlier post, but here's the deal with ignition coils. Contrary to popular belief, an ignition coil is not a "step-up" transformer. It is an energy storage device, and it will generate whatever voltage is required to jump the spark gap, up to a point. That's why you can hold a spark plug lead an inch away from the plug and draw an arc, even though the normal coil output voltage is much less than the 80 kV required to jump one inch.
Now, the reason you can get a fouled plug to fire by holding the plug lead away from it is that this prevents the coil's current from being shorted out by the fouling until the coil voltage rises to a point where it will easily jump the plug gap. (I think it was John T who explained this to me, or maybe B&D, I don't remember.) You don't need a high-voltage coil to do this trick, as any coil can generate enough voltage to jump a half-inch or so.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Usin Your Implements: Bucket Loader - by Curtis Von Fange. Introduction: Dad was raised during the depression years of the thirties. As a kid he worked part time on a farm in Kansas doing many of the manual chores. Some of the more successful farmers of that day had a new time saving device called a tractor. It increased the farm productivity and, in general, made life easier because more work could be done with this 'mechanical beast'. My dad dreamed that some day he would have his own tractor with every implement he could get. When he rea
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
For sale Farmall super A tractor is complete and has just been setting for awhile,it was running when pulled out of the barn,shouldn’t take to much to get it going asking 1100.00
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
