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Ballasted or not Ballasted?
- Thread starter Sharpish
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Nunyas
Yoda
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i remember there being a fairly good discussion on when and when not to use a ballast resistor on your system or with a given coil... Ah here we go:
https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthread...true#Post120144
My personal car came with a ballast resistor installed. It was using a Lucas coil (I forget the model number), but it's gone bad finally. I suspect it's been going bad for some time now. The coil I picked up today is internally balasted. So when i installed it, I made sure to disconnect the external resistor from the circuit.
Ermmm... Now that I re-read your question, I think I might have missed the point...
https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthread...true#Post120144
My personal car came with a ballast resistor installed. It was using a Lucas coil (I forget the model number), but it's gone bad finally. I suspect it's been going bad for some time now. The coil I picked up today is internally balasted. So when i installed it, I made sure to disconnect the external resistor from the circuit.
Ermmm... Now that I re-read your question, I think I might have missed the point...
dklawson
Yoda
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You may have already received the answer you wanted in the replies above, however....
If your existing coil still operates, the easiest way to identify it is to mark and disconnect the wires on the low-tension terminals. Use a volt/ohm meter set to ohms and measure across the coil's terminals. A non-ballasted system will have a coil measuring close to 3 ohms. If you have a coil requiring a ballast resistor, the coil will measure somewhere between 1 to 2 ohms.
If your existing coil still operates, the easiest way to identify it is to mark and disconnect the wires on the low-tension terminals. Use a volt/ohm meter set to ohms and measure across the coil's terminals. A non-ballasted system will have a coil measuring close to 3 ohms. If you have a coil requiring a ballast resistor, the coil will measure somewhere between 1 to 2 ohms.
Nunyas
Yoda
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Sharpish- I got some el cheapo odd ball made in Mexico coil from Kragen. Never heard of the brand outside of the Kragen store either. One of those brands that doesn't brand their own product (it's just a black coil with "Internally Ballasted" stamped in white on the body), and not listed as an "official" brand on the Kragen website. However, it's internally ballasted, I've been running on it for 2 days now, and have put nearly 30 miles on it so far... all seems to be ok for the time being. I may well still swap it out for a "performance" coil after I get new tires though, but this one is working for the time being.
Bret
Yoda
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[ QUOTE ]
You may have already received the answer you wanted in the replies above, however....
If your existing coil still operates, the easiest way to identify it is to mark and disconnect the wires on the low-tension terminals. Use a volt/ohm meter set to ohms and measure across the coil's terminals. A non-ballasted system will have a coil measuring close to 3 ohms. If you have a coil requiring a ballast resistor, the coil will measure somewhere between 1 to 2 ohms.
[/ QUOTE ]
Doug is correct. But if you don't plan on making any changes like removing or adding a ballast resister. "DO NOT" use a none-ballasted coil on a ballasted setup. Nor should you use a ballasted coil on a none-ballasted setup either.
Also if you don't have a digital volt/ohm meter - any electronics store should carry a reasonably priced unit. I've noticed that some autoparts stores price theirs kind of high.
Good luck,
You may have already received the answer you wanted in the replies above, however....
If your existing coil still operates, the easiest way to identify it is to mark and disconnect the wires on the low-tension terminals. Use a volt/ohm meter set to ohms and measure across the coil's terminals. A non-ballasted system will have a coil measuring close to 3 ohms. If you have a coil requiring a ballast resistor, the coil will measure somewhere between 1 to 2 ohms.
[/ QUOTE ]
Doug is correct. But if you don't plan on making any changes like removing or adding a ballast resister. "DO NOT" use a none-ballasted coil on a ballasted setup. Nor should you use a ballasted coil on a none-ballasted setup either.
Also if you don't have a digital volt/ohm meter - any electronics store should carry a reasonably priced unit. I've noticed that some autoparts stores price theirs kind of high.
Good luck,