Ignition Noise on AM Radio

hrafn · Post by **hrafn** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:34 pm

I installed the civilian ignition kit from Expedition Imports and now I have a
lot of noise on my AM radio (FM is ok). Has anybody else experienced this,
and has anybody found a cure?

As a side note, does anybody know if Scott's civilian ignition kit has the
resistor in the wires, or in the spark plugs?

Thanks,

Lightningpinz · Post by **Lightningpinz** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:29 pm

Hey Jay, my civi kit was from about 2001. It has resistor wires. I've had no problems. (well, my cb is noisey. However when you smack it , the problem gets better. I think there is a daughter board loose inside.)Having said that I would check and ensure that each plug wire has good contact on the spark plug. (twist, push and feel the click). If that doesn't work, then remove 1 wire at a time and see if any 1 wire has a noticeable effect on the static. If one wire has a noticeable effect, then check that wire and plug. Also check the grounding of the radio and the antennea.

Best of luck. Let us know how you get along.

M Wehrman · Post by **M Wehrman** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:08 am

AM..

I know what FM is ,also sat radio,cable TV,Windows,I-tunes and Pertronix....I thought AM was natuarally full of static.......

kc4mne · Post by **kc4mne** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:17 am

I can hear big time static on my ham radio gear after installing scotts kit also. Hve not tried to troubleshoot.

Please post any fixes that you come up with

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:49 am

Hey Jay,
Yah, I have the same problem. I do believe it comes down to two things:
1) Poorly grounded antennaes (as suggested)
2) More EMF getting thrown off now that my wires aren't shielded.

Things that I'm gonna do:
1) Ground the antennaes well (and I used to have an internal antennae that is now routed OUT of the vehicle)
2) Faraday cage inside the doghouse & cover. Just glue/foam some bronze/iron/steel/dense screen inside and ground it to the chassis. That will soak up all the EMF you care to generate in there...

Seeya and good luck.

Twin Pinzies · Post by **Twin Pinzies** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:39 pm

AM radio still exists?! Well I'll be damned!

2012 · Post by **2012** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:57 pm

doesn't emf stand for electro-magnetic force?

hrafn · Post by **hrafn** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:15 pm

doesn't emf stand for electro-magnetic force?

Yep, sure does.

AM radio still exists?! Well I'll be damned!

Some of the best stations around here are still AM.

I can hear big time static on my ham radio gear after installing scotts kit also. Hve not tried to troubleshoot.

That's also part of the reason for my inquiry. I may need to go back to the
original military setup before installing any ham radio gear. Anybody want
to buy a slightly used civilian setup?

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:10 pm

Hi Guys,
Yeah, EMF also stands for Electro-motive force (neuroscience / chemistry) it can also stand for electro-magnetic FIELDS...

I wouldn't give up on your civilian setup until I tried a few tricks (grounding and shielding). I really love my civie ignition system, spark, wires, coil and all...

Anyhoo, screen is cheap and good ground wires are even cheaper. No sense throwin' the baby out with the bathwater.

Well, I'll try the experiment my own self and keep you posted...

PS: Winter's a-comin' round these parts. I smell another post or two on insulating the Pinz in the works...

2012 · Post by **2012** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:11 pm

polyisocyanurate sheet with reflective backing is awesome stuff in a vehicle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyisocyanurate

milesdzyn · Post by **milesdzyn** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:04 am

Jay, kc4mne.....I have zero experience with mobile based ham radio equipment and would like to know what you guys are running? Also what is the range and what type of antenna do you guys have for them? Are they compact units HxWxD?

Miles

hrafn · Post by **hrafn** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:36 am

Miles,

My 710K is equipped with the original radios, a RT-524 transceiver, a R-422 receiver, and the AM-1780 intercom system. Also has the original antennas.

Only good for the 6 meter band, but everybody in our MV group has pretty much the same configuration.

2012 · Post by **2012** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:40 pm

where did you get that pinz?!

milesdzyn · Post by **milesdzyn** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:27 pm

Okay so 6 meters is band width? I saw a Radio Shack mobile 10 meter Ham, would that cover the same band width as your 6 meter? Its a small package which I like, but does that mean its going to have less power/distance capabilities? What means of measure indicates power/distance?

Miles