Ballast Resistor

I have a 1955 CJ5 that I just purchased as something to mess around with and see how far I can restore it.

I have two other more modern Jeeps so it is pretty cool and simple looking under the hood of this one.

Does anyone have any information about where to buy a ballast resistor?

I am fairly unfamiliar with such a thing until yesterday, I did however learn its name rather than calling it "that odd looking ceramic thing"

Is this a vehicle specific part? Anyone???

Thanks!

 

A resistor that has the property of increasing in resistance as current flowing through it increases, and decreasing in resistance as current decreases. Therefore the ballast resistor tends to maintain a constant current flowing through it, despite variations in applied voltage or changes in the rest of the circuit. See also Resistor.

The ballast action is obtained by using resistive material that increases in resistance as temperature increases. Any increase in current then causes an increase in temperature, which results in an increase in resistance and reduces the current. Ballast resistors may be wire-wound resistors. Other types, also called ballast tubes, are usually mounted in an evacuated envelope to reduce heat radiation.

Ballast resistors have been used to compensate for variations in line voltage, as in some automotive ignition systems, or to compensate for negative volt-ampere characteristics of other devices, such as fluorescent lamps and other vapor lamps.

These I don't think are specific to one vehicle. My painless wiring kit came with a new one as well.

 

Go to your flaps and ask for a ballast resistor for a 1970 Dodge.

Standard RU4

 

I walked into NAPA and a 20 year old kid looked at my part, I was expected a nightmare.

He said, yep.... here you go $13.

Came home, put it in, fired right up.

God Bless NAPA!