More Inductive Pickup

[masmith]

>\/ Darrell A. Norquay                   Internet: dn at dlogtech.cuc.ab.ca
/\  wrote:

> These pen size high
>voltage detectors consist simply of a standard NE2 type neon light bulb.
>One lead of the bulb is grounded (or tied through the metal case to your
>body, which acts as an antenna).  The presence of high voltage nearby is 
>enough to ionize the neon in the bulb and light it up... so why not 
>optically couple a phototransistor to a standard neon bulb by heat-
>shrinking the two together, and, voila, instant pickup. 
>--
>
There used to be an old (i still have one somewhere) Neon timing light that was
wired using HV ign. cable in series with the spark plug.  It put out a dim
red flash
that was fast enough to "stop" a timing mark but you couldn't see it unless
you worked
with the hood down at midnight with no moon during a power failure.  (and
any leaks would
shock the living daylights out of you....... :-0   )
bottom line - this would indicate that response time would be sufficient  -
ie fast enough.

lurker and occasional contributor.
( i am a rocket engine sensor physicist.  a rocket engine is basically two
large fuel injectors
and a nozzle.
85 Ford ltd 3.8 ltr cfi, 89 festiva with oldfangled carb 

Matt Smith
masmith089 at qnet.com
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