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Ballast resistor

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Posimoto, Jul 4, 2005.

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  1. Jul 4, 2005
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
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    I just bought a Petronix Flame Thrower coil. It has 1.5 ohms resistance built in to it. Does that mean I can get rid of the firewall mounted ballast resistor?
     
    Posimoto, Jul 4, 2005
    #1
  2. Jul 4, 2005
    Hill

    Hill Member

    Colorado
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    Mar 7, 2004
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    I doubt it. You can try it, but if the coil gets HOT then you have to run the resistor. If your wiring is setup right, then the starter jolts the coil with full voltage when cranking. Makes starting easier.

    -Hill
     
    Hill, Jul 4, 2005
    #2
  3. Jul 4, 2005
    william_cj3b

    william_cj3b 3BOB driver

    Milton, FL
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    Nov 17, 2003
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    NOPE. I tried it when I did my pertronix install. Ran too hot. Pertronix does recommend running without a resistor in v8 and race/high rpm v6 apps (from the ignitor insruction sheet).
     
    william_cj3b, Jul 4, 2005
    #3
  4. Jul 4, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Read the Pertronix instructions?

    Just the coil with points? Or did you get the Pertronix too?

    Depends on which you're doing.
     
    sparky, Jul 4, 2005
    #4
  5. Jul 5, 2005
    Posimoto

    Posimoto Hopeless JEEP Addict

    Minden, Nevada
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    I got the Igniter too. But it was for the wrong distributor. I should have the right one in the next day or so. The coil directions say to chuck the resistor if it drops the voltage below 12v going to the coil. That was for V6 and V8 applications. It did, so it's gone. I'll keep an eye on the coil temp though.
     
    Posimoto, Jul 5, 2005
    #5
  6. Jul 5, 2005
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    :? Shouldn't matter if you have the Pertronix or points, it's the coil that matters; either it's internally resisted or not......
    I use an MSD coil, still needs a balast, and I use the balast that came with the coil...
     
    Patrick, Jul 5, 2005
    #6
  7. Jul 5, 2005
    Grinsha

    Grinsha minimally sufficient

    Montana
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    Nov 11, 2003
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    If you run 12 volts to the coil with points it will burn the contacts off of the points much faster. I think that is the main reason they put a ballast resistor on it.
     
    Grinsha, Jul 5, 2005
    #7
  8. Jul 5, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    It matters because Pertronix says to remove the ballast resistor for use with their kit. I thought it was stated in the instructions that it was for the trigger to get full voltage. Not that the coil had an internal resistor.

    If you're using points then you'd need the resistor.
     
    sparky, Jul 5, 2005
    #8
  9. Jul 5, 2005
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    My Pertronix said nothing about removing the resistor, just to make sure the ignitor was not hooked up thru the resistor......If you have an internally resisted coil, you don't need a balast...
     
    Patrick, Jul 5, 2005
    #9
  10. Jul 5, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    That's my point, they said to remove it. One of my friends bought it and talked with them on the phone. I was under the impression that since you weren't using points that you didn't need a resistor. Internal or on the firewall.
     
    sparky, Jul 5, 2005
    #10
  11. Jul 5, 2005
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    You have a point there (no pun intended). Why am I still running a resistor with no points??????
     
    Patrick, Jul 5, 2005
    #11
  12. Jul 5, 2005
    wingtime

    wingtime Member

    Clearwater FL
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    I don't have a pertonix, however if I recall correctly most coils operate at about 9V. Hense the requirment of the resistor to drop the voltage going into the coil. Some starting circuits do however bypass the resistor during starting sending 12V to the coil for easier starts. (my CJ-7 had this even though it had electronic ignition) It is true that runing a non internal ballast coil with out a resistor will burn up points sooner since the full 12V is going thru the points. I would assume the coil Pertonix uses probably has an internal ballast so it would not require a resistor.

    On my 67 with the :hurrican: I went with a internally balasted coil so I didn't need the external resistor.
     
    wingtime, Jul 5, 2005
    #12
  13. Jul 5, 2005
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
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    What Bruce said. Most coils unless with an internal resistor run around 8 or 9 volts and without a ballast resistor you can melt a coil quicktime. I've never run a pertronix but after reading some of the post here and talking to others about the inoportune times they decide not to work. I'd keep the ballst resistor on the firewall even if its not hooked up and a set of points in the glove box.
     
    jd7, Jul 5, 2005
    #13
  14. Jul 5, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Here we go, this is what I wasn't sure of.

    The coil IS internally resisted hence they tell you to remove the ballast resistor:
    http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticles/67339/index2.html

    Not that I didn't believe you guys but since no one could specifically say for sure it was internally resisted...
     
    sparky, Jul 5, 2005
    #14
  15. Jul 5, 2005
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    That's if you use their coil. I use an MSD so I use the balast that came with it....
     
    Patrick, Jul 5, 2005
    #15
  16. Jul 5, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Yes. I believe my post specifically said "Flamethrower Coil". That's the one the question was originally about. R)
     
    sparky, Jul 5, 2005
    #16
  17. Jul 5, 2005
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    :rofl: :oops: :(
     
    Patrick, Jul 5, 2005
    #17
  18. Jul 9, 2005
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    Okay, to rehash, I just read the instructions that came with my Pertronix ignitor. It says that if your original setup had a balast, do not remove it.........
     
    Patrick, Jul 9, 2005
    #18
  19. Jul 9, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    So which is it? R)

    Jp says that they said remove it, I've read instructions that said remove it, you say not to.
     
    sparky, Jul 9, 2005
    #19
  20. Jul 10, 2005
    Gixx

    Gixx Member

    Albuquerque, NM
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    MINE said - DO NOT REMOVE ballast in big red letters. I followed the directions (for a change) and all seems well.
     
    Gixx, Jul 10, 2005
    #20
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