Best timing (Strobe) light

[MetBlue]

My 45 year old timing lights died , so looking for a new one.
Any recommendations for what are useful features over the simplest flash only guns?
Ones with a digital RPM display look like they could be a good benefit, but are fancy advance and dwell features of any use?.
Budget isn't open cheque book, say around £50, but could go up a bit if benefit is there.
Also what search term should I put in eBay for the inline electrical test widgets that go between HT lead and plug to see if you have a spark. I just can't get any hits.
Thank for thoughts / advise.
Tony

[Gray14]

Car Builder Solutions, www.carbuilder.com, list them in their catalogue, page 137, as “Ignition Tester” £4. I think these are marketed by Accuspark but last time I checked they were out of stock.

They also list a “12v Timing Light with bright LED Digital (rpm) Display” £42.

[Alan_M]

I bought my spark tester things at NEC. Think I got 4 for a tenner.

[Marten]

My 45 year old timing lights died , so looking for a new one.
Any recommendations for what are useful features over the simplest flash only guns?
Ones with a digital RPM display look like they could be a good benefit, but are fancy advance and dwell features of any use?.
Budget isn't open cheque book, say around £50, but could go up a bit if benefit is there.
Also what search term should I put in eBay for the inline electrical test widgets that go between HT lead and plug to see if you have a spark. I just can't get any hits.
Thank for thoughts / advise.
Tony

dwell is pointless with fully eleictronic ignition
Adjustable advance is only interesting on engines where you only have a single reference instead of a degree scale

[MetBlue]

The Car Builders light is an Accuspark SP8000 - badged.
I'd got this on my short, along with this one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144653627289 ... %7Ciid%3A1.

I like the idea of the plugged cable on the Accuspark, and at least I know the lead length is 1.8M, even though won't be enough for the Excel direct from battery.

Thanks also for the "Ignition tester" clue. Have now found the little devils .
Tony

[Marten]

and at least I know the lead length is 1.8M, even though won't be enough for the Excel direct from battery.

If you don't have 12v on the coil, you won't need a strobe

[MetBlue]

. If you don't have 12v on the coil, you won't need a strobe

Fair point.

[Alan_M]

Tony bear in mind the size of the timing light as there’s not a lot of space to get one in to point at the timing marks if you’re doing it with the bonnet on and have A/C.
The one you’ve linked to looks quite big.
Doing it with the bonnet off will be no problem of course.
I have a Gunson’s one that’s about 30 years old.
I either use a spare battery as power source, or earth strap at engine mount and positive to starter.

[Tanz]

Regarding power source - I cut the crocodile clips off and connect a cigarette lighter plug. You can just plug it in the dash then and the wire is long enough.

[MetBlue]

I got the Accuspark and did a quick test this afternoon.
Seems all as expected and the option to test 2 smokes could be useful if I ever return to motorbikes.
The RPM reading certainly looks useful.
As Alan predicted, looks pretty impossible to see the crank pulley with bonnet on, but then probability is the bonnet will be off anyway when doing this kind of works. Or maybe I'll find a way of positioning a mirror.
Tony

[Alan_M]

As Alan predicted, looks pretty impossible to see the crank pulley with bonnet on, but then probability is the bonnet will be off anyway when doing this kind of works. Or maybe I'll find a way of positioning a mirror.
Tony

I’ve done the timing on the SA which has the extra stuff for A/C with the bonnet on - in the Mangreen’s car park