wrote:
: Now here's a debate: The resistor was originally to reduce
: radio interference in automotive plugs. Since aircraft plugs are
: shielded, that's not necessary. The textbooks say that the resistor is
: there to shorten the spark duration and reduce electrode erosion.
: Wouldn't it be better to leave the resistor out and accept shorter but
: consistent plug life?

It *may* be acceptable, but the shielding isn't 100". Also, the increased
distributed capacitance of the shielded plug wires would lead to extra-high currents
if there were no resistance in the loop. I think that plug life is already pretty
low... it would probably be horrid without the resistor.

-Cory

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* Cory Papenfuss *
* Electrical Engineering candidate Ph.D. graduate student *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
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