timing light for 6 volt positive ground

pseftoncomcastnet

Has anyone found a way to avoid having to have a spare 12 volt battery on hand to power a neon-type timing light? My light won't fire more than feebly on 6 volts. I/m assuming that it should be hooked up positive to the grounded positive terminal of my battery and negative to negative.



Peter Sefton

Jay_G

I have a battery powered light that only has the spark plug lead.  I got it from Flaming River I believe.  It is not adjustable so all it does is flash when the plug fires.  But no other wires to hook up.

 

Jay

hudsonsplasher1

Peter, 

 I have used a 12V battery charger to run my timing light.  Just hook up the clamps black to black and red to red. Should work fine.

Gene.

pseftoncomcastnet

good tips. that charger idea is pretty creative!

ps

dwardo99

I have also used the battery charger trick, but be careful to isolate the clamps so they don't touch. I fried my battery charger that I have had for 35 years by carelessly leaving the cables on the floor while I was timing my Hornet. My buddy said, "is it supposed to be making that noise"? No ....

hudsontech

I have also used the battery charger trick, but be careful to isolate the clamps so they don't touch. I fried my battery charger that I have had for 35 years by carelessly leaving the cables on the floor while I was timing my Hornet. My buddy said, "is it supposed to be making that noise"? No ....

Don't feel bad dwado99. I did the same thing - twice!!!!!  The first time I dropped the cables on the fender and the 2nd time I had them on the floor and kicked one into the other.  I'm just your average klutz!!!
You are correct - either will fry the charger in a heartbead.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

railknight

I too have recently purchased and used a battery powered Flaming River timing light on my Hudson Super Wasp with good results.  However, my Sears Craftsman 12 volt light puts out a pretty good strobe flash hooked up to the 6 volt battery of my Super Wasp.  Of course this was performed in the late evening when the sun was already down.  And speaking of the sun, I have an old functional 6V Sun timing light from the fifties that I can turn to, but it's more of something of an old repair garage display piece.   

pseftoncomcastnet

thanks all! I ended up buying one of those D-Battery powered single wire units for about $45 on Amazon. It works spectacularly well. The flash is brilliant. Seeing the timing mark on the flywheel of a 262 is always a challenge, but with a chalk highlight, this light makes it quite easy.


Peter S.

Jon B

Oops!  I didn't notice this discussion until just now.  I was going to suggest buying a nice used 6-12 volt adjustable light such as several being advertised on ebay right now.  Here's one for $9,99: http://www.ebay.com/itm/L893-Snap-On-Tool-6-12-Volt-Timing-Light-MT-215-SNAP-ON-TOOLS-/201152513697?hash=item2ed59fc6a1&item=201152513697&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

Oh well, maybe someone who's reading this, has the same need and can try this approach!