Do I have to take the distributor apart again?

Electrically speaking, it doesn't really matter where the condenser is physically connected (as long as it is close to the contacts being protected.

Myself, I would hook the frontmount condenser to the top post like pictured in the I&T FO-4 manual because the #8 terminal hole is too wide for the #6 screw on the ignition arm spring and you stand a bigger chance of shorting out the contacts and then you'll stand around wondering why you can't get any sparkies..... ...Dell

As you know, electrons are rather lazy things and would rather travel in a friendly metalic conductor than jump an air gap. But they'll jump a gap if'n they have enuff emf. By sucking all the electrons into the metalic plate of the capacitor, they don't have enuff coulombs left to jump the points gap and burn 'em.

Was just trying to simply answer the question: "what does a condenser condense?" Which is along the likes of the retorical questions of "what does a generator gen?" or "what does a carburator carb?" or "how does a battery bat?" or "how does a piston work?"..... ....respectfully, Dell

The term' condenser' was coined long before the theory of it was understood . It is now properly called a 'Capacitor '.

When the points are closed -- it is effectively out of the circuit --shorted out .

When the points 'open ' the magnetic field that was produced in the primary of the coil, collapses .

This collapsing magnetic field , produces a current in the secondary coil -- the high tension coil. Since there are many ,many more turns in the secondary coilthan the primary, a higher voltage is produced

The Capacitor is now switched into the circuit with the opening of the points and provides a 'ground'for the high tension coil . It in effect shorts out the points for this secondary circuit . The circuit is then --the coil secondary (current source) , the spark plug gap and the capacitor .

At this time ,there is no current from the battery.

To have any other "theories" on this very simple circuit , is very misleading and fraught with error .Lets get it straight .

Perhaps I should have used the word "assorbs" instead of "condenses" the surge of electrons in an inductive load when current flow is interuped by opening the ignition points?

And we all know how long the points will last without a condensing capacitor across 'em.

Was just trying to simply answer the question: "what does a condenser condense?" Which is along the likes of the retorical questions of "what does a generator gen?" or "what does a carburator carb?" or "how does a battery bat?" or "how does a piston work?"..... ....respectfully, Dell, who really does know how the Kettering ignition system works

AND YOU ARE STILL ALL WET !!!!! !!!

You may want to know ----- --- I taught Electricity / Electronics for 10 years in high school a nd Industrial Electronics for Instrument Union and Electrical Unions .

I don't need a two - bit know-it all to 'corect 'me .

The "correct" name for the device is "capacitor", as Claus mentioned. What it *does* is described rather poorly by both names. It stores or "condenses" electrical energy up to a desired level (it's "capacity") and then discharges it all at once. As you might expect, these things come in all sizes, which leads us to today's safety tip.

Warning! - Shorting between the terminals (or between the body and the lead for capacitors commonly found in breaker or "points" type ignition circuits) of a capacitor or "condenser" or "can" may cause the sudden release of electrical energy stored in the device. This can give you a nasty shock, even if the circuit is disconnected from the battery.

bjt