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Old 04-20-2014, 10:22 PM
i82much's Avatar
i82much i82much is offline
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Default Jumped tach and got shocked?

I have an MSD ready to run distributor, and I just had a shop install rally gauges in my car. The tach works fine. The rev limiter on the MSD distributor is set by grounding the tach wire. So, I went in and ran a jumper to the back of the tach (under the assumption that is where the MSD tach output is hooked to). When I picked up the jumper, I got the crap shocked out of me!

I really don't get it. Is that possible somehow if the tach was wired to the coil instead of the distributor tach output? Shouldn't the coil just have 12 volts?

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Old 04-20-2014, 10:25 PM
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i82much i82much is offline
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As a side note, if anybody at MSD is listening, that is an awfully inconvenient way to set a rev limiter. Just sayin'.

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Old 04-20-2014, 11:16 PM
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Bill Hanlon Bill Hanlon is offline
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On a regular points ignition system there is a very short positive voltage pulse on the primary coil winding that can easily reach 200-300 volts when the points first open. It'll bite you pretty good. I've never looked at an MSD system, but I'll bet you it is the same, if not more.

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Old 04-20-2014, 11:40 PM
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george kujanski george kujanski is offline
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Yep, you will see (feel) several hundred volts on the tach coil connection.

George

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Old 04-20-2014, 11:57 PM
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i82much i82much is offline
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good to know the problem is me and not the car! i had gone a good 20 years without being shocked, I had foolishly suspected myself of having gotten wiser.

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