Mystery electrical part
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 517
Likes: 20
From: Scroggins Tx
Mystery electrical part
On the 75 stop light wires. This looks like a capacitor of some sort, but does anyone know for sure and why it was added? It has MG. ICS 200 VDC + - 10% written on it and has a heavy wax-like coating.
Thanks, Dave
Thanks, Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
Not familiar with that connector and I don't know why it may have been added, probably to reduce RF interferance with things like your radio but it is definately a capacitor. looks to 50's or 60's vintage one, although those wax and foil ones were used even in the 30's.
They wear out and become leaky. Replace it with a modern component if you want to retain it in the circuit. Look for the farad rating .01, .05 etc. to get an equivalent replacement.
They wear out and become leaky. Replace it with a modern component if you want to retain it in the circuit. Look for the farad rating .01, .05 etc. to get an equivalent replacement.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Stock 'radio noise suppressor' [capacitor] for the brake light switch. It helped keep the "pops/clicks" out of the radio speaker output when the brake lights were applied. Similar items on turn signals/flashers, alternator, and coil over the years. If you have a modern radio in your car, you don't need it. But, the wiring will do no harm.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
Stock 'radio noise suppressor' [capacitor] for the brake light switch. It helped keep the "pops/clicks" out of the radio speaker output when the brake lights were applied. Similar items on turn signals/flashers, alternator, and coil over the years. If you have a modern radio in your car, you don't need it. But, the wiring will do no harm.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Not that I'm doubting you(as really don't know), but are you sure that capacitor was installed that way from the factory. As mentioned, the last time I saw a wax capacitor like that, was in old vacuum tube radios, my grandfather had laying around in his basement. Also, strange the factory would have used tap-a-line connectors, but really don't know some things going on then.
Maybe some of the guys that worked on assembly will chime in and give the answer.
I agree the tap-a-line connectors don't look like they "should" have come from the factory,looks a bit last minute to me.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I would state...without hesitation...that a 40+ year-old capacitor like those in the photos would be of little use by now. And, if your radio is newer than 15-20 years old, it wouldn't need it, anyway.