Using induction clamp to see ignition voltage spikes and DC

[Ricky Spartacus]

I`m trying to display ignition voltages and DC currents on my o`scope.
I`ll be clamping the timing gun`s induction clamp onto one of the
ignition plug wires and hook the other end of the induction wires to
an o`scope. I am hoping to see a voltage jump of some sort. Will this
work? And If I later clamp it around an alternator cable, being under
load, will I see at least 30A of DC currents?
TIA
Ricky

 

[Neil Nelson]

In article <d1e1d73f.0401022303.2b67aae2@posting.google.com>,
RickySpartan@mailandnews.com (Ricky Spartacus) wrote:

I`m trying to display ignition voltages and DC currents on my o`scope.
I`ll be clamping the timing gun`s induction clamp onto one of the
ignition plug wires and hook the other end of the induction wires to
an o`scope. I am hoping to see a voltage jump of some sort. Will this
work?

I doubt it, but experiment anyway.
Generally, if you want to see anything useful with any level of
resolution, you need a capacitive pick-up to view an ignition
waveform. Your #1 inductive clamp should work as a trigger
though.

And If I later clamp it around an alternator cable, being under
load, will I see at least 30A of DC currents?

Nope, you'll need a hall effect inductive clamp to measure
current.

 

[Jim]

Ricky Spartacus wrote:

I`m trying to display ignition voltages and DC currents on my o`scope.
I`ll be clamping the timing gun`s induction clamp onto one of the
ignition plug wires and hook the other end of the induction wires to
an o`scope. I am hoping to see a voltage jump of some sort. Will this
work? And If I later clamp it around an alternator cable, being under
load, will I see at least 30A of DC currents?
TIA
Ricky

You can see the plugs firing with just a couple loops around the plug
wires. You won't see much on the alternator as it's damped by the battery.

 

[Mike Walsh]

An inductive clamp will sense changes in the magnetic field produced by an electric current and can't be used for DC.

Ricky Spartacus wrote:

I`m trying to display ignition voltages and DC currents on my o`scope.
I`ll be clamping the timing gun`s induction clamp onto one of the
ignition plug wires and hook the other end of the induction wires to
an o`scope. I am hoping to see a voltage jump of some sort. Will this
work? And If I later clamp it around an alternator cable, being under
load, will I see at least 30A of DC currents?
TIA
Ricky

--
Mike Walsh
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.A.