One of the best ways to gain automotive knowledge is simply by asking the two-word question: “What is (a part, theory, thing)?” and locking in the definition after it is given. We’ll take a flier and ...

In racing, spark plugs are practically a disposable commodity. Use them for a while and throw them away. If the engine starts acting funny, replace the plugs just in case. It's cheap insurance and ...

When we think of a spark gap radio transmitter, most of us immediately imagine an early twentieth century ship’s radio room or similar. Most of us know these transmitters as the first radio systems, ...

Author Louis Vlemencq recounts his experiences in designing and prototyping his Idea for Design, originally published in the July 23, 2009 issue of Electronic Design. The idea of using a spark-gap (SG ...

For most street engines, it’s a great idea to choose a spark plug with an extended reach tip. These plugs offer the same heat range options but push the spark out a few millimeters closer to the ...

In olden times, part of the ritual of changing your engine's spark plugs was making sure that the gap was set correctly for optimum performance. That is, the distance between the spark plug's center ...

Getting back to basics is a great way to teach yourself about a technology. We see it all the time with computers built from NAND gates or even discrete transistors. It’s the same for radio – ...