One area that power panels are a real problem especially for new folks and I an not gonna even mention the 'D' word, is that little knob below the current gauge. OK first it is neccessary to understand there are two types power panels out there. The vast majority are simple manual types with that knob and by rotating it you simpy up the current and change the glow plugs to all sorts of pretty colors when lit up.

The other type is much more expensive and has circuitry that will automatically detect a plug that is partially flooded and increase the current all on its own to a level that will burn out the flood then return the current to a proper level. It will do this on it own and do it in micro seconts and will never even know.

Another type is the independant box that will also do this and is popular for certain types of high performance competition engines. I enen use one of these for certain types of these engines. Now back to these horrible cheap ones that is sold to almost every newbie that causes so many starting problems, yes causes starting problems in so many cases.

Our glow ignition two stroke engines are arguably semi diesel engines and thats a fact, and no I am no kind of engine guru I am just a survivor. All internal combustion reciprocating engines are easier starting when the ignition timing is retarded or closest to top dead center. But after starting this not gonna make much power. The best power is gonna occur with the ignition happening much further before the piston reach top dead center. Most all other types of engines other than our glow engines have simple mechanical systems and or complex
electronic sytems to automatically advance timing ignition time for various loads and retard it for easy starting.

But we can,t do that with our glow engines huh, or can we?

Sure we can and the easiest way we commonly do is simply switching out glow plugs of various heat ranges. That why we see these engdless threads on folks favorite glow plugs and so forth but I sure ain't going there

Now back to these lowly abominations (oh boy gone and done it agine and I'am in trouble all over agine) the cheap power panels that are sold to just about all the newbies.
Well it turns out we got another way with these panels to advance the ignition timing and thats by that simple little knob, heck if we crank that knob up the glow gets much hotter and make prettier colors if ya look at it and advances the ignition timing.

Only problem with that when we are trying to start the thing is advancing the timing is the wrong thing to do for easy starting. What most often happens with new folks and a lot of folks who been around long enough to know better is when the engine is cranky and not starting for any manner of other reasons, the first thing the folks do is reach for that nob and crank up on the current. That will do two things, first it will make the engine even more difficult to start (you have just advanced the ignition timing) and if you did not burn the plug out right away it will shorten the life of the plug.

Yup if I was a glow plug manufacturer I think I would go into making cheap power panels and sell as many as I could with big old full page adds of the things so they would look oh so impressive to new folks just cause its sells tons more glow plugs.

Most of the folks I choose to mentor end up thanking me for gently pushing them toward completely portable setups and really all they need is an inexpensive single cell glow stick or perhaps two with one for a spare.

OK here is the disclaimer, all of the above is just the opinion of this survivor and I ain't no kind of expert in nothing.

John