The National Voltage Star

well its 2 days before my dead line, and I have no idea what I am going to right about this time, nothing new here. The iTunes program on my computer keeps finding songs that force me to fire up the Ampeg tube amp, strap on the trusty Fender and jam along, and then  it hits me……Magnets! Without them I would not be using a computer, I would not need to use a computer though because there would not be a automobile. But before I get into that let me share some news, we have a new online catalog, the old page will stay there as will our blog, but if you would like to order any products just go to our catalog at www.high-amp.com and I am pleased that Rush Power Systems remains 100% capitalists, we have not nor will we agree to take any abomination bail out money!check out our new street rod alternator line. This alternator is designed to be a direct bolt in replacement for the 20 year old design you are most likely using now, it comes in a one wire design, it will give you much better power at an idle than the 10/12 si unit, and it will most likely outlast your vehicle. Amp ratting up to 200 amps. Now where would we be without magnets? When I have free time, which was I think was about 5 years ago, I enjoyed “hot rodding” electric guitars. The pickup coils are very similar to the way a HEI distributor works, and it is also what makes the HEI distributor one of the best for modification as well as everyday use. Now other factory distributors are similar to the HEI but there are subtle differences that can be problematic, but hey if the HEI will not fit your engine go with the stock unit, in my opinion they are just as good if not better than aftermarket units, in fact I believe when properly set up they will out perform aftermarket units. My only problem with the HEI is GM should have used bearings instead of bushings but that is easily fixed. So the parts involved here are, a pick up coil, magnet and metal, can anything be more simple?  As we know (if you have been paying attention) a magnet inside a coil of wire will make electricity flow, so think of the little spiky thing inside the HEI distributor as the rotor in an alternator, or for that mater just like the massive rotors inside the ac power generators found at water driven power plants. In a distributor when the tip of the spike or point is closest to the receiver it causes a pulse in the pick up coil, that pulse tells the ignition module when to fire the coil. The thousands of pluses make up a AC sine wave and that is what the tach reads to tell you what RPM the engine is at. Now the cool thing is this don’t want a big Ford ignition module under the hood? Cant fit it under the dash? Just use a HEI 4 pin module. You can mount it under the distributor or under the dash. The pins are power ground, coil trigger, pick up in and pick up out and it will work with any factory distributor of the same cylinders as the ignition module you are using. Just keep in mind the metal plate is ground as well as heat dissipation, it must be mounted on a aluminum surface using heat transfer gel. As you may have guessed the next stop on our vehicle tour of magnets is the alternator, the rotor is an electro-magnet, when the regulator applies voltage to the rotor coil inside the north and south pole pieces ac power flows in the stator, the rectifier converts it to DC and your headlights stay bright. But that is not all, there are magnets and electro-magnets found in relays, solenoids, and more. As always, if you have questions feel free to ask.