Next message: (no name): "Re: lv-ab: What to do with my Loran"
In a message dated 11/1/01 9:52:28 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
> There are no capacitors large enough to absorb the starter motor spike. In
> fact it is not a spike.
The spike in question is caused by the magnetic fields in the starter motor
coils collapsing when the current is stopped.
When current flows through a coil a magnetic field is created. When the
current stops this magnetic field collapses, generating a high voltage spike
that can arc across the opening contacts of the solenoid and appear
throughout the electrical system in various strengths. If you would like to
experience this spike personally, simply hold on to the bare wires, like in a
fuseholder, feeding an inductive load such as an electric pump and interrupt
the circuit. You will feel a bite when you open the circuit. This is the
spike we are talking about.
A large capacitor at the input terminals of sensitive equipment can do much
to absorb the spike. A real filter, such as available at Radio Shack or car
stereo shops, works even better.
Norm
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