Spark Plug Wire Resistance

[MikeH]

What is the recommended resistance for spark plug wires. Less resistance should equal more spark, especially if you're running a hotter coil. Right? Thanks, Mike

63 TR4 Surrey Top

 

[Dave Russell]

[ QUOTE ]
Less resistance should equal more spark, especially if you're running a hotter coil. Right? Thanks, Mike
63 TR4 Surrey Top

[/ QUOTE ]
Hi Mike,
Plug wire resistance is not much of a factor in how hot the spark is. When you consider that the plug gap has tens of thousand ohms of resistance, a couple of thousand ohms in the plug wires adds little to the overall picture. There is also the distributor rotor to cap air gap involved which is also thousands of ohms.

Some carbon core (resistor) wires do reduce the radiated electrical "noise" which can create radio interference. The usual problem with carbon core wires is mechanical, in that the wire end connections are somewhat fragile & sometimes fail. Distributor caps & plug connectors which use a piercing device to make the electrical connections will not work for long with carbon core resistance wires. If you want the best of both worlds, there are helically wound, wire center plug wires, that work very well to reduce noise & still have good mechanical strength.

Resistance type wires that measure more than about 6,000 ohms are possibly damaged & should be replaced.

A coil with higher output voltage capability will still only put out enough voltage to jump the spark gaps. Typically 20 to 25 thousand volts. The rest of the voltage capability is largely never used. As with all such things, there may be some exceptions, but not many.
D

 

[Geo Hahn]

Dave's point about caps with piercing devices to attach the wires to the distributor cap is, of course, applicable to the TR4. I use a generic V8 kit with copper core. One kit has enough in it to make about 4 sets of TR ignition wires if you reuse your old plugs boots.

 

[waltesefalcon]

As always Dave has pretty much laid it all out there. As an adendum to his post though I'll add this thought. If you are looking for hotter spark then you need to consider a different plug, not plug wires, or coil.

 

[Keoke]

[ QUOTE ]
What is the recommended resistance for spark plug wires. Less resistance should equal more spark, especially if you're running a hotter coil. Right? Thanks, Mike

Zero-to- 1- Ohm---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

63 TR4 Surrey Top

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Keoke]

HI G Hahn, I do the same thing just figure string is for tying up packages.--Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif