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-   -   Timing light leads when battery is in trunk? (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/109087-timing-light-leads-when-battery-trunk.html)

mbeers6 02-09-2011 10:40 AM
Timing light leads when battery is in trunk?
 
Hey guys,
I'm borrowing a friends timing light and was wondering if it's okay to hook up the positive lead to the back of my alternative? I have a self exciting (1 wire) alternator, the battery is in the trunk.

I don't want to fry this guys timig gun so any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

xlr8or 02-09-2011 10:46 AM
Do you have a starter selenoid on your firewall? Use the batter side of that if you do.

FWB 02-09-2011 11:05 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbeers6 (Post 1108708)
Hey guys,
I'm borrowing a friends timing light and was wondering if it's okay to hook up the positive lead to the back of my alternative? I have a self exciting (1 wire) alternator, the battery is in the trunk.

I don't want to fry this guys timig gun so any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
i had the same problem, after making some scary arcs from putting my light leads in precarious locations i installed one of these on my firewall, makes life alot easier.


http://rjminjectiontech.com/images/mega-fuse.jpg


can be had from most auto stores like NAPA,.......

mbeers6 02-09-2011 11:10 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by xlr8or (Post 1108710)
Do you have a starter selenoid on your firewall? Use the batter side of that if you do.
Yes, but it's on the wrong side of the firewall :) It is underneath the dash.

I guess I could just pull the battery from my toyota and put it on the ground to be safe.

Thanks for the info on the Bussmann, I'll look into that.

Rick Parker 02-09-2011 11:16 AM
Attach the positive (red)to the cable on the starter solenoid, whether it is on the fire wall or at the starter itself. An alternative would be a "hot" wire at the fuse box. Keep all attaching cables free of the headers. You friend will thank you for it.

392cobra 02-09-2011 11:20 AM
I connect the positive lead of my timing light to the positive output on the back of my alternator.

FWB 02-09-2011 11:24 AM
as a side benefit, the bussman really cleaned up the underhood wiring. i used it as my positive lead to all the extra stuff. it got direct feed from the battery and has 1\4-20 studs as posts, so you can put a really heavy wire on it and its a fuse block too.

trularin 02-09-2011 01:56 PM
I ran the battery to a large aluminum plate that was engine-turned. It works great for connecting power.

Use the big fuse before the plate is you decide to put a connecting stud.

:D :D

SuperHart 02-09-2011 04:07 PM
Clip the red lead from the timing light to the red terminal on the rear of the alternator. Clip the black timing light lead to any ground source and the light should work just fine. That's how I do it.

DanEC 02-09-2011 04:44 PM
That's an interesting question. I had a Pontiac Trans Am in the 70s that I moved the battery to the trunk in - I did a lot of tuning on it but I can't remember how I powered my timing light. I must have put the lead on the starter solenoid where the battery positive lead terminated??? It's hell getting old.

FWB 02-09-2011 06:34 PM
or you could get a battery operated light




http://www.msdignition.com/uploadedI...8991b_full.jpg

madmaxx 02-09-2011 06:45 PM
Use a pair of jumper cables, connect to battery in trunk and timing light.

Tim Brewer 02-09-2011 08:12 PM
I just always use an extra battery on the ground.

Roscoe 02-10-2011 06:13 AM
I also use the alternator hot lead

Roscoe

Excaliber 02-10-2011 07:28 AM
Years ago I used the 12 volt positive connection on the COIL and the other lead to ground. That works on standard ignition systems. It does NOT work with MSD ignition. Turns out the MSD can supply as much as four hundred volts to the plus side of the coil. Blew out the timing light in a heart beat.... :)

DanEC 02-10-2011 11:46 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Excaliber (Post 1108938)
Years ago I used the 12 volt positive connection on the COIL and the other lead to ground. That works on standard ignition systems. It does NOT work with MSD ignition. Turns out the MSD can supply as much as four hundred volts to the plus side of the coil. Blew out the timing light in a heart beat.... :)
Now that you mention the coil I think that may be what I use to do with my old Trans Am with a trunk mounted battery. Hooked it up to the coil and ground like a dwell meter. Should of remembered that.

Blas 02-10-2011 02:31 PM
Consider for a moment...What range of voltages come off the alternators hot lead, especially if you connect the timing light between the alternator and the voltage regulator. Be sure your timing light can handle the higher voltage...Since most newer timing light are multi-purpose tools they should be ok. But the older - single purpose timing lights my get toasted...

JST4FUN 02-10-2011 04:50 PM
Any one have personal experience with the MSD AA battery powered unit? Specs says it's good to 5000rpm. I'm in the market for a timing light, this one would eliminate concern of where to pick up power.

Thanks!

Silverback51 02-10-2011 05:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JST4FUN (Post 1109041)
Any one have personal experience with the MSD AA battery powered unit? Specs says it's good to 5000rpm. I'm in the market for a timing light, this one would eliminate concern of where to pick up power.

Thanks!
I have one and it works great.

I just make sure to always remove the batteries when I'm done using it.

Roscoe 02-10-2011 06:06 PM
I have an MSD digital ignition and use the alternator. It's on the same side as the dampner.

Roscoe


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