Re: SOLVED!!! electrical/wiring problem‏ -- THANK YOU!

[MO <micher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bill, thanks for the info in layman's terms.  I know you can get a 12
volt coil that has printed on it "no external resister required"  Can
you tell us how that works if it starts on 12 volts and runs on 6
volts?

On Sep 23, 6:45 pm, Bill Watson <chryco...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Looking through the thread, could not see any explanation as to why
> the ballast resistor.  So, to explain what goes on -
>
> The ballast resistor has a piece of resistor wire surrounded by
> porcelain.  The ballast resistor cuts the voltage from 12 down to
> around 6 volts.  The voltage being "removed" is dissipated in the form
> of heat.  Porcelain is a good electrical insulator, and it is also a
> good heat insulator.  Thus the resistor wire breaks down after a few
> years.
>
> The ignition switch has a START and a RUN (or ON) position and the
> wires from each go to separate ends of the ballast resistor.  There is
> a second wire attached to ballast resistor along with the wire from
> the START position that runs to the coil.  Thus when you are starting
> the car the flow of power bypasses the resistor and goes directly to
> the coil.
>
> When you release the key and the ignition switch falls back to the RUN
> position, power runs through the resistor.  Thus, if the resistor is
> dead, the engine will die the moment the ignition switch goes from
> START to ON.
>
> The reason for the ballast resistor was cut the voltage back to 6
> volts with the adoption of 12 volt electrics as 12 volts wore out the
> points too quickly. A few cars cars back then had the resistor between
> the coil and the points.  Then someone, a  bean counter more than
> likely, figured out it was cheaper to put it before the coil and then
> you could use a lower power (ie cheaper) coil.  One make actually went
> back to a 6 volt coil when they moved the resistor.  Which is why the
> coil also became sensitive to the 12 volt current - it was no longer a
> true 12 volt unit.
>
> Bill
> Toronto, ON
>
> On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 4:15 PM, Douglas Sutherland
>
>
>
> <pluckedchick...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > It was the ballast resistor!
> > Looked at the back of my old one and it was worn through.
>
> > Thanks for your help!
>
> > $4.95 part to boot.
>
> > It's a sunny afternoon here in Seattle --
> > guess I'm going for a drive!
>
> > Thanks,
> > Doug
>
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