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The
Brightspark EasyCap
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Although many
things can be the cause of failure, particularly when hot, capacitors are
the commonest cause of 'internal' magneto failure. Despite their modest
cost, replacing them in the traditional way requires time and a certain
amount of skill. Often, it will only be undertaken in the context of a
full overhaul and rewind of the coils.
Because capacitors
fail more often than HT windings, our objective with the EasyCap has been to
separate capacitor replacement and maintenance from the 'full works'
rebuild/rewind, while at the same time empowering the magneto owner to tackle
the work required for the initial fitment of one of our EasyCap products.
Our capacitors fit at
the 'easy end' of the magneto (where the contact breaker sits), rather than
being buried in the armature. They are available for an expanding range of
common magnetos and magdynos. They take a few minutes maximum to fit or remove.
Replacement becomes what it ought to be, an inexpensive routine maintenance task
for the good of the overall health of the ignition system - just as as it
is on vehicles with distributor and coil ignition.
Initial fitment does,
however, involve disabling or removing the old condenser/capacitor. This is a
delicate but not particularly difficult task, which we explain in very great
detail. You may need to remove one of the bearings of the magneto, and we
provide drawings for the required puller, for those who enjoy a bit of turning.
Alternatively, you can send your armature or complete magneto to us, and
we will do the job for you. |
EasyCap Key
advantages
Fits next to
the points, not buried in the armature.
Easily
replaceable routine service item.
Affordable.
Enables quick
and easy magneto testing by substitution to identify or eliminate the
capacitor as the cause of problems.
Can save
unnecessary and expensive full overhauls/rebuilds.
Guaranteed for two years. |
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The EasyCap is a modern surface-mount multi-layer ceramic capacitor on a
specially-designed mounting plate in the form of a double-sided circuit
board, as shown in the first photo on the left. Most versions of
EasyCap have a capacitance of 140 or 150 nF, but some are 220 nF. The voltage rating
is 630 Vdc.
For further information on the spec,
please go to the FAQs by clicking here.
The exploded view on the right shows where the C01
EasyCap fits in the brass contact breaker assembly of a Lucas magneto, clamped between the backplate and the mounting block for the
fixed contact-breaker point, replacing the insulator plate fitted as
original. Clamping the
EasyCap in position automatically makes the electrical connections between
the two contact breaker points and the capacitor. It really is that simple.
The second photo on the left shows a C01
EasyCap fitted to the contact breaker assembly, with the capacitor
nicely nestled between the two exposed posts of the brass backplate.
The EasyCap
is a relatively new product to the market, but specimens have been extensively tested
throughout 2011 on an A10 BSA, an AJS twin, and in countless hours of
non-stop stress-testing on the
Brightspark test rigs. They have performed faultlessly and not shown
any signs of degradation. Nevertheless, all capacitors do age, and we do not
claim that the EasyCap will have an unlimited life. We therefore recommend, after four years of
service, either replacement or checking using a 500V Megger and a
capacitance meter. If the capacitor tests good, then we recommend Megger and
capacitance checking every year thereafter.
The
EasyCap is in any case warranted for two years from purchase against defects in
manufacture or construction of the condenser leading to failure in normal
service. No quibbles, except that 'normal service' does not include
damage to the condenser caused by mis-fitting! In the very
unlikely event of a failure, tell us, send
us the old one, and we'll send you a new one by return and reimburse
you the cost of the post.
As of July 2013, two thousand EasyCaps had been sold, most
of them retail and fitted to a magneto soon after purchase. Of those, we
have heard of only one failure, and that was in the first few miles. As it
happens, the customer had bought a spare, and the problem was fixed in a few
minutes. The failed item was immediately replaced under guarantee.
Specific EasyCaps: Currently, we are producing EasyCaps to fit many models of
Lucas, BTH, M-L and Magnéto France rotating-coil magnetos and magdynos, as fitted to
innumerable Triumph, BSA, AJS, Matchless, Norton, Ariel, Velocette and
Vincent motorcycles and many pre-WW2 cars in the UK, and Terrot, Magnat-Debon
and other machines in France. For the Lucas ring-cam magnetos, the version
of EasyCap required depends on whether it has the earlier brass
contact-breaker back-plate or the later steel affair. For Lucas instruments
with a brass contact-breaker back-plate, and for Magnéto France instruments,
the version of EasyCap required also depends on which way the armature
rotates.
Universal EasyCaps:
The 'Universal' EasyCap is an ignition condenser suitable for use not only
in all types of magneto (rotating-coil, rotating-magnet and flywheel), but
also in battery-coil ('Kettering') ignition systems. It is designed so that
it can be shaped to fit wherever the space permits. Please click here
for more details, including examples with photos as fitted to various makes
of magneto, including ABG,
Bosch, CAV, Joe Hunt, Lucas SR1, Magnéto Novi, Morel, Villiers, Wico-Pacy
and Wipac.
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Magneto/Magdyno |
Contact breaker |
Rotation
(as viewed from the drive end of the magneto) |
EasyCap Version |
Fitting |
Lucas
K1F, K2F,
KVF, MN2 (ring cam) |
Brass - Lucas part No.
470534 |
Anti-clockwise |
C01 |
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Fitted between the fixed-point
mounting-block and the back-plate in place of the original insulator
plate(s) |
Brass - Lucas part No.
470533 or 470542. |
Clockwise
(Of the post-war British motorcycles, only Enfield twins, Vincents and
Douglases
had clockwise magnetos.) |
C02 |
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Steel -
Lucas part No. 492854 or 493836 |
Either direction |
C04 |
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Fitted under the screw head and steel washer as
shown in place of the original insulating washer |
Lucas
MO1, N1, KN1
with face cam
M-L Magneto
with face cam |
Lucas part No. 460051 |
Either direction |
C03 |
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Fitted between the moving-point mounting-block and
the back-plate in place of the original insulator plate(s) |
BTH KC1, KC2, KD1, KD2
(ring cam)
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Brass - BTH part No. CX1883-G24 etc, as shown in the photo |
Either direction |
C05 |
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Fitted between the fixed-point
mounting-block and the back-plate in place of the original insulator
plate(s) |
Magnéto France GCOR, GCOO, HCOR, HDCOR, GCO, HCO, HDCO
& HR
(ring cam) |
Magnéto France part No. 575. |
Clockwise.
(Droite) |
C06 |
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Fitted between the spring
mounting-block and the back-plate in place of the original insulator plate(s) |
Magnéto France part No. 576. |
Anti-clockwise (Gauche) |
C07 |
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'Universal' Available with 150 nF or 220 nF
capacitor. |
CU/150 and CU/220 |
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For more information, click here. |
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Versions of the EasyCap for
other magnetos and magdynos will follow.
All versions of the
EasyCap
are available now from our online shop.
They cost £13 each for all except the C04, and £16 each for the C04, plus
postage and packing (per order) of £2 to anywhere in the European Union, or
£4.50 to the rest of the world. If you wish, you can also purchase
EasyCaps
on Ebay, but at a premium to cover the Ebay fees. Brightspark's charges
are not liable to VAT.
For trade enquiries, please contact us:
info@brightsparkmagnetos.com.
Other Suppliers
Customers can also obtain the full range of Brightspark
EasyCaps from:
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Austria:
Histo-Tech GmbH in 2620 Neunkirchen,
Austria.
office@histo-tech.at.
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Sweden: RB Magnetos in 24491
Kävlinge, Sweden.
rbmagnet@hotmail.com
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North America:
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JRC Engineering in Perris, CA, USA.
JRCENGINEERING@aol.com
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Skip Brolund in Painesville,
near Cleveland OH, USA.
sbrolund@yahoo.com
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British Cycle Supply Co. in
Wolfville, NS, Canada and Hackensack, NJ, USA.
info@britcycle.com
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Doug's Cycle Barn in Swansea,
MA, USA.
dougr027@aol.com
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New Zealand:
British Spares Limited in
Nelson, New Zealand.
sales@britishspares.com
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Australia: OK2F Magneto
and Dynamo Repairs in Prospect, Adelaide, Australia.
robbo.tone@bigpond.com
Use in aircraft. Different rules and
regulations apply in different jurisdictions regarding replacement parts
used in aircraft. As far as we are aware, EasyCap
condensers have not yet been approved for use in aircraft in any territories
where such approval may be required. If use in an aircraft magneto is
contemplated, the onus is on the purchaser of the EasyCap
condenser or fitter of the magneto to the aircraft to ensure that the EasyCap
condenser is suitable and complies with all relevant rules and regulations. Brightspark Magnetos Ltd does not make any claims in respect
of suitability for use in aircraft and disclaims any responsibility for such
use.
Brightspark
and EasyCap are trade marks of
Brightspark Magnetos Limited.
The EasyCap capacitor is
patented (GB2480565 - foreign rights reserved) and is the subject of
design right throughout the European Union and other forms of protection
throughout the world.
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