In article <vq1kh1tdg5v0ipph2ht4ftsljqnbflr1gk@4ax.com>,
xmrichmond@xaustin.xrr.xcom says...
> On Sat, 3 Sep 2005 13:44:05 -0400, "hutchtoo" <hutchtoo@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Tegger's FAQs has references to dwell meters - e.g for testing the coil. I
> >have never heard of a dwell meter before and they aren't widely available
> >from what I can tell..
> >
>
> In the old mechanical breaker points ignition systems, dwell angle is
> the angle of rotation of the distributor through which the mechanical
> points are "closed. The points must remain closed for a sufficient
> time to store energy in the coil sufficient to produce a good, hot
> spark at the plug when the points open. In a four cylinder engine,
> dwell angle is typically around 60 degrees.
>
> There is an equivalent measurement in an electronoic ignition system
> that is usually called dwell, but it is not properly dwell in the old
> contact points sense. This quantity is electronically controlled. I am
> not sure what an old fashioned dwell meter would be measuring in a
> modern electronic ignition engine. However, I do not think it would be
> useful information. There is typically no way to make adjustments on
> most electronic ignition systems anyway.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Elliot Richmond
> Freelance Science Writer and Editor
>
The 'Old' Dwell meters were usually based on continuity testers. I
suppose you could measure continuity with it. I have seen articles in
the electronic trade magazines about using Volt-Ohm (V.O.M.)meters for
measuring point dwell. This was back in the late sixties and early
seventies. I know I'm showing my age here.

Randy