Originally Posted by
AA5BY
My thinking is the plugs don't wear for two reasons. First, the voltage of a capacitive discharge system is considerably higher than the inductive discharge systems. Higher voltage requires less current.... less current.... less heat. The second I alluded to above. The inductive discharge ignitions suffered a several cycle oscillation between the coil and the condenser thus providing a spark of longer duration.
Combined, more current flowing longer = plug wear.
I've never thought about multiple sparks causing excessive electrode wear I must admit. Though the voltage versus current theory is definitely on the mark. I wonder how the very popular MSD ignition systems were with electrode wear, being as they were specifically designed for multiple spark. I never used one long enough myself to know, though I installed them for other people and never had complaints about shortened plug life.
AV8TOR