Timing light
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- Jayson Woodruff
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Timing light
Does an inductive timing light gun need to be hooked to the car's battery or will any 12-14v source do?
Jay W
Jay W
- George Schilling
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Re: Timing light
Any 12v dc power source should do but you may need to ground the timing light. Try it and see.Jayson Woodruff wrote:Does an inductive timing light gun need to be hooked to the car's battery or will any 12-14v source do?
Jay W
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- Bill Martin
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Re: Timing light
Or...you might have to ground strap the 12V source neg to the car's chassis. The timing light could have an insulated body.George Schilling wrote:Any 12v dc power source should do but you may need to ground the timing light. Try it and see.Jayson Woodruff wrote:Does an inductive timing light gun need to be hooked to the car's battery or will any 12-14v source do?
Jay W
- Jayson Woodruff
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Re: Timing light
Yeah that makes sense now. I was thinking about my clamp on amp meter not needing a ground point.
And the gun has a plastic case.
Jay W
And the gun has a plastic case.
Jay W
- Bill Martin
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Re: Timing light
But if I had to bet money...I suspect you won't need a ground. I think the inductance loop will sense current flow as magnetic flux. There is no electrical circuit involving the car. Maybe.
- KJ Christopher
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Re: Timing light
That's my position. And I'm unanimous in that.Bill Martin wrote:But if I had to bet money...I suspect you won't need a ground. I think the inductance loop will sense current flow as magnetic flux. There is no electrical circuit involving the car. Maybe.
kj
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Use the email link. I don't read nor get notified of PMs.
Former No$ Club Rep | Former SCCA Area 11 Director |Former CSCC Solo Chair
Caged Z Motorsports - automotive consultation
The ACME Special Now with Super Speed Vitamins
- Jayson Woodruff
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Re: Timing light
Yeah, the priciple of my inductive amp meter. But the timing light needs to be highly accurate, so maybe the floating ground would hurt that.Bill Martin wrote:But if I had to bet money...I suspect you won't need a ground. I think the inductance loop will sense current flow as magnetic flux. There is no electrical circuit involving the car. Maybe.
I'll test it out both ways. I found a 12v point in my engine bay just for such purposes (actually I knew it was there, but the protection cap looked like a proprietary connector until I figured I could unsnap it).
Jay W
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Re: Timing light
Spare 12V battery would solve this right?Jayson Woodruff wrote:Yeah, the priciple of my inductive amp meter. But the timing light needs to be highly accurate, so maybe the floating ground would hurt that.Bill Martin wrote:But if I had to bet money...I suspect you won't need a ground. I think the inductance loop will sense current flow as magnetic flux. There is no electrical circuit involving the car. Maybe.
I'll test it out both ways. I found a 12v point in my engine bay just for such purposes (actually I knew it was there, but the protection cap looked like a proprietary connector until I figured I could unsnap it).
Jay W
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Re: Timing light
It will work with external power. Well, mine does.
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Re: Timing light
If were talking the Prius... that little red flip cap in the fuse box is also where you jump start the car.... don't go messing with your battery 12 volt battery directly, unless you want to mess with the three phase electronics in your car.Jayson Woodruff wrote:Bill Martin wrote:I found a 12v point in my engine bay just for such purposes (actually I knew it was there, but the protection cap looked like a proprietary connector until I figured I could unsnap it).
Jay W
You will find a large metal post near the head that sticks up, that's the official jump start ground point too, within easy reach of most jumper cable split ends without having to tear them farther apart.
All in the manual.... but who reads those?
- Jayson Woodruff
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Re: Timing light
Miata.
I doubt you can set the timing in the prius. I have "jumped" it with one of our little timing light batteries though.
Jay W
I doubt you can set the timing in the prius. I have "jumped" it with one of our little timing light batteries though.
Jay W
Craig Naylor wrote:If were talking the Prius... that little red flip cap in the fuse box is also where you jump start the car.... don't go messing with your battery 12 volt battery directly, unless you want to mess with the three phase electronics in your car.Jayson Woodruff wrote:Bill Martin wrote:I found a 12v point in my engine bay just for such purposes (actually I knew it was there, but the protection cap looked like a proprietary connector until I figured I could unsnap it).
Jay W
You will find a large metal post near the head that sticks up, that's the official jump start ground point too, within easy reach of most jumper cable split ends without having to tear them farther apart.
All in the manual.... but who reads those?