extending the leads of my timing light

[noslencb]

I am getting ready to check timing on the new engine I just installed in my 88 vanagon. I have a Innova model 5568 timing light. The wire leads are too short to reach from the battery to the engine. Is there any reason I cant add wire of the same AWG to the leads? Is the light somehow calibrated with the lead length it has? If extending the leads will screw up the reading on the timing light, what are my options? thanks for any help
Brian

[Glenn]

You should be able to get 12v+ on the B+ terminal of the alternator. The negative cable to and ground and the spark plug probe to #1.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
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עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[Randy in Maine]

Or hook it up using your jumper cables or to another car's battery.

[Ahwahnee]

[nemobuscaptain]

[bluebus86]

They tell me timing is everything, the timing light is not sensitive to cable length so long as there is enough juice to run the light with out a huge voltage drop. Same gage wire to battery should be fine. or use the alternate engine bay places to tap off the voltage using the stock lamp leads, that's what I do.
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Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information

Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022

[Nuthin2It]

I inherited a "Jump-N-Carry" jump starter from my brother-in-law. I never travel with it because it takes up too much room and it's heavy. But I've discovered that it's real handy to have in the garage. I use it for my timing light. It has a cigarette lighter socket in it, so I use it for my tire inflater. I attached two wires with alligator clips on the ends to a cigarette lighter plug and use it as a 12V source for testing electrical components.
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1985 Westfalia 15 degree EA288 Boxeer

[noslencb]

Thanks for all of the info! I think I will just hook up to the alternator and ground. Then I think I can also see the voltage off of the alternator on the timing light.

Another question is dwell? My timing light can read dwell and and its owners manual says to hook to the negative (tach) side of the ignition coil. From what I understand, the digifant doesnt have a way to adjust dwell so do I need to even bother checking this?

[bluebus86]

you can check the dwell but it is not adjustable on the digifant. I have heard that there are failures of the dwell control in the ecu. Never had one fail on me however.
_________________
Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information

Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022