How do you hook up this timing light?

[OldCarGuy]

The newer style Penske inductive timing lights of the 1960's were a huge improvements over the earlier neon style that emitted a dim orange light. That was nearly impossible to see with any kind of ambient light. And needed almost complete dark of night to use it. But a newer inductive timing lights needs to be hooked up to a 12 Volt battery source to use.

Relics indeed. But I still find myself reaching for my old neon timing light that I purchased over 50 years ago. A necessity when working on early cars with 6 Volt batteries. It’s easier to turn out the lights, rather than dragging a 12 Volt car battery to time one of my antique cars...

Closer view of neon timing light...

 

[Tool Pants]

The top one looks like my first light from 35 or so years ago. I think it was hooked up to the spark plug wire and ground. Do not remember it getting power from the car battery. In fact my first car was a Sunbeam Alpine and the battery was behind the seats, so I'm pretty sure I did not hook it up to a battery.

 

[Junkman]

Spring?? If I don't have the spring...?

If you don't have a spring, then you can put a paper clip under the rubber and clamp to the wire and the paper clip. I'm sure that you will be able to figure out that you need to bend the paper clip apart. I'll check my box to see if I have a extra spring. Junk...

 

[Junkman]

The top one looks like my first light from 35 or so years ago. I think it was hooked up to the spark plug wire and ground. Do not remember it getting power from the car battery. In fact my first car was a Sunbeam Alpine and the battery was behind the seats, so I'm pretty sure I did not hook it up to a battery.

The really inexpensive ones just used power from the ignition coil to work. The ones with the electrical connection to the battery were much brighter.

 

[bmwpower]

If you don't have a spring, then you can put a paper clip under the rubber and clamp to the wire and the paper clip. I'm sure that you will be able to figure out that you need to bend the paper clip apart. I'll check my box to see if I have a extra spring. Junk...

No worries Junk, I used a wire to test it. See my last post above.