Yes, true enough.

I suspect that the conventional current flow model of circuits, i.e; from +ve to -ve arose because it looked more sensible and was easier to follow. Circuits are usually drawn with the +ve voltage rail at the top and the -ve rail (which is often earth or chassis earth too), at the bottom. This makes 'reading' an electronic circuit much more intuitive - like a page of a book - one imagines the current flowing from top to bottom, and (usually) left to right, rather than what it actually does; from bottom to top. It makes no real difference to one's understanding of a circuit whether one is thinking of positrons (or 'holes') flowing from +ve to -ve, or electrons flowing in the opposite direction.

I suppose you could ask why we write words from left to right, and from top to bottom - it could be done differently, for example Chinese and some Middle Eastern languages, but it's just a convention I guess.

Now, can someone remind me why positive earth vehicles arose? It was to do with electrolytic corrosion I think - does anyone know?


U

I have no idea, but you may well be correct.

I've found that spoof engine product I mentioned - it's not a spray, but an engine additive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY1YndLmbXQ

Currently, it alternates.

:E

I couldn't find a positive ground (earth) story I liked online, so I'll make up my own. The few "conventional" ignition systems I've played with had one side of the points connected to the coil, and the other side to ground (through the condenser).

Positive ground would mean that the points switched the positive lead to the coil. Being firmly in the P to N camp, this seems more natural to me. If I were, say, converting a magneto system to a battery, I'd probably hook it up this way.

Haunebu batteries
 

Hi,

What kind of batteries Haunebu used?

:confused:

It's not a spoof product.

Start Ya Bastard Instant Engine Starter- Nulon Australia

Thanks Compressor. The product you've found is a highly flammable combustion assister - sprayed into the intake, whereas WD40 is of course sprayed on the ignition components to drive off water and damp. (I think WD40 stands for "Water Dispersant, mix no. 40", and was developed for the space industry).

I can't remember the name of the equivalent combustion assister product in the UK, but clearly remember its use in starting reluctant diesel engines!

A great thread, only just come across it.

Saying that and all the slagging of Lucas ( yes I've had my fare share of faults over the years).

A question, who does French car electrics? Is it part of Thales the infamous 787 fiasco?? They are notoriously unreliable.

Ducellier, Paris-Rhone...gone...ditto Magneti-Marelli, WIco-PACey C,A.Vandervell -Even the Prince, Joseph Lucas...absorbed into Delphi, along with Lockheed-Girling....AC-Delco, a GM brand....oh dear ,I feel old.
Yet former Eastern Bloc crap like Iskra and Narva are market forces
Recently referred to a Teves braking-system (Alfred Teves) Specialist brake factor had never heard of tham.....ATE? well, why didn't you say!
I, too, heard that electrolytic corrosion, combined with Monocoque construction (less metal to rust away) precipitated the standardisation of Neg. "Earth"
Uplinker has it!
Rocket WD40 was the original name on the new-fangled Aerosol cans and was, indeed, purported to be a spinoff from NASA's Space-Programme. (Program ,for the Septics);) As was non-stick coating on frying-pans (teflon, PTFE)

great nostalgia thread!

electrical theory
 

I also seem to remember the change from +ve to -ve earth was said to be due to reduced anodic (cathodic?) corrosion effect on the bodywork with winter road salts thrown into the equation.
I have a vague memory of the engine starter aerosol being called something like Bradex. Found myself once or twice after spraying a dose into the air cleaner intake wondering whether to go and give it a 'start ya bastard' with the key or just stay there sniffing for a minute longer.

Well, never let facts get in the way of a good myth...

PTFE was invented by DuPont in 1932 - "Teflon" is just a trade name. So its discovery and development had nothing whatsoever to do with space.

Aerosol cans were patented in 1931 in Europe (Denmark?) so hardly new-fangled in 1953 when WD 40 was created as an industrial product so named from "water dispersant" product No. 40. Although it was developed for corrosion protection in military missiles it had nothing to do with NASA which would not be created for another 5 years.

"Septics" is unpleasant and probably racist, even with a smilie. Ugly.

Redex
 

Anyone one remember the upper cylinder lubricant?
Had a mini countryman that after about an hour thrashing her would slow to around 50 mph. Stop at the side of the road, open the bonnet, take off the air filter and give a long squirt into the carb.
Closed everything up, jumped back in and opened her up.
Immediately would attain the dizzy heights of 70+ mph but would leave a smoke screen behind!
Looked in my rear view mirror one day to find the Waggon and horses had disappeared!

A.B. Sorry to have upset your sensitivities,- I guess you would be mortified to hear yourself referred to as a Limey? Nickname rascist? -really???

As an aside, I came from Clacton, Essex, originally, but as far as the Locals are concerned, I.m a southerner and therefore a Cockney...Should I drop it from my screen-name and climb on the outrage-bus? maybe seek compensation for the psychological damage this misapprehension has caused me over the last 38 years?
Aerosols MAY have been invented a long time previously,but they weren't seen in mainstream consumer-products until ,possibly, the late 50's.
I remember telling schoolmates that the "Yanks " (that ok? ) had beer in CANS and each case had a FREE metal can-piercer in it..I took a can and opener into school, to prove it!
We had a detatched place, spare rooms and a good relationship with a group of lads from Weathersfield who would stay for a weekend's carousing with their "wives" :}

back on thread...Redex, Yes! i had a large cylindrical glass dispenser with a plunger-pump atop and a delivery-hose...one "shot" per gallon of fuel...no wonder they needed decokes every 10,ooo back then and a full overhaul at 30K.
Adapted the dispenser to pressure-spray Waxoyl and it was last used to coat the innards of a 172's wings and other tight spots.....after "cooking" in the spraybooth, about 80% poured back out for re-use!

BRADEX- AFAIK, still in business....the product was ether-based and called "Ezy-Start"....many a driver was reluctant to use it, because the engine would become "addicted" and only spring into life with it's application.

A gentle whiff was all that was needed, too much and it'd knock like hell whilst the revs went ballistic! (also known to break rings.)

If you spray it into a .22 air pellet and then put that in a crappy old BSA air rifle and pull the trigger there is a huge bang and the wheezy old air gun becomes a useful tool for actually shooting things...

(..I found out as a 14 year old with a squirrel fixation..)

(Bradex not redex obviously)

Steve, if you can't tell the difference between nicknames and offensive names you're a sad case. Carry on, you seem well practised at it.:ugh:

In 1962 when I was majoring in electronics electron flow was negative to positive and still is. Before that there were two flows considered. AC vs DC are different of course. Direct current comes from a battery or charger, alternating current powers your house or comes from an inverter in an airplane.

Ah Redex! Reminds me of my 14 year old friend suggesting to his dad, who was struggling with an engine problem, that he should put some Durex in it. Got a very funny look.

A B - is a Bob!
 

You are well off the track and suggest that you google cockney rhyming slang.
Being from Sarfend wiv cockney connections Septic comes from Septic tank rhymes wiv Yank.
Similarly horse means tart (& cart)
Apples means stairs.
and good old Bob is a Yank singer and golfer :ok:
Nowt to do with racist - perhaps you should look up your history as I believe that there were a lot of British religious groups and deportees that founded your brave land.

Put more bluntly - as long as we accept "Limey" with good humour, I don't think "Septic" is really any more offensive...