Ignition coil gap... a word of caution

I have a set on my bench and a set in the tool box. No walking needed.

 

Marine plugs are surface gapped for fouling resistance and faster burn. I don't know if any of them would cross to a chainsaw.

 

Did I read someone say “ground strap”?

 

Oh boy! Did i start an argument? What should i have called it mr smarty pants.

 

There have been some conversations about it. Eh, Horkn ? I call it a ground strap as well…

 

I remember that debate. Lol. Ground strap, side electrode...bla bla bla. Same thing.

 

Well if we use the conventional theory of electricity flow, positive to negative. I don't see how it wouldn't be a ground. The spark threads into the cylinder head that's bolted to the block where the ground cable from the battery usually connects.

 

But the spark happens when the field collapses, so wouldn't it be reverse polarity?

 

Current flows from negative to positive.

 

That's the function of a step of transformer. Right? That's all a coil is. So you're describing the function of the coil?

Just depends how you want to look at it.

 

Grab the hot (black wire) coming outta the wall of your house and I'll bet you think otherwise. That shock didn't come outta the ground.

Same with the coil wire on a running engine. Grab the metal part.

 

Electricity is the flow of free electrons. Electrons flow from negative to positive. Current flows from positive to negative. That's what I was taught many moons ago.

 

So what would be the difference between electricity and current? Not trying to be a smart guy like some. Just trying to learn and understand better.

 

Current is the flow of electrons. The negative side is releasing electrons, thus the - symbol. The positive is gathering them, that's why it has a +.

AC is different than DC because the electrons are reversing direction 60 times per second. AC was developed because DC was not able to be transmitted long distances.

 

So let's use the real world scenario of getting shocked from a spark plug wire of a running engine. Can you use your explanation and put it in terms of what i see/feel? What then is the shock that i feel if it doesn't come from the positive?

Earth ground is ground right? How did electrons come from the ground? Why don't i feel the shock in my feet first?

 

Sounds good to me. It was many moons ago when I took a basic electricity class.

 

Can we really SEE the flow of electrons? Last i learned we couldn't but that was years ago.

Like do electrons flow inside the copper wire/strand or on the surface?

 

I'm no electrician but from what I've read and seen in slow motion videos, when lightening strikes, just before it hits a charge jumps from the ground up to meet it. Kinda sounds like the same principle he is talking about. People that have been struck say they felt powerful static electricity all around and over them before getting hit.

 

A chainsaw is not connected to earth ground. Current takes the path of least resistance. The plug wire is high resistance, the kill switch wire is lower resistance, when you switch it off the current flows through this wire and the plug wire is not getting current anymore.