Drove into tescos earlier - no problem. Shopped, returned to van and it wouldn't start. After some faffing, I changed the condensor. All sorted. Driven to london.

Parked up at my London place, packed the car and drove off. Got about half a mile and it does. Same problem. Except I don't have my spare condensor on me now.

I'm guessing it's tha same issue so why is the van killing condensors?

Sam,
if the charging voltage is too high, the condenser ( aka capacitor ) will be vulnerable to early falure.
Have you got a voltmeter on the van? Or a multimeter in the took kit?

ken

its possible that the new condensor failed sam, -there is a good modification you can do
you can mount/bolt the condensor just outside the points box by extending the wire a bit
it makes it far easyer to access it
condensors can either short to earth inside- or just go "open circuit" and not do their job(to reduce/minimize arcing across the points as they open)
also you might have a faulty coil, if its the original one
i might be wrong

Although it's much easier to mount a replacement condenser next to the coil, especially if you're doing a roadside (or campsite ) fix.
A pair of sidecutters soon isolate the old condenser in the points box...

ken

+1 for the voltage reg
Then get something that does away with them they are the weak point no matter what you call them or how you spell it

if the voltage reggy was playing up and allowing over volt/current, the battery would be cooked
i might be wrong
condensors are strange things!, difficult to test!apart than if they are open circuit or short to earth

it was a problem with failing condensers that led me to buying 123 ignition.

I am quite happy not having to take the fan off on a regular basis

I have a handheld electrical tester thing - last week battery was ok at 14.3 when revved, reg was new in may. Where does the condensor go in the circuit? And what could I Replace it with?

Sam,Sean has a black box that does away with them.I cant remamber the name of them,but I am sure he will be along soon .
Better sort it out if you are going to the van show/camp in Holland.

Coil.