coil and ballast resistors

butch49 · Dec 4, 2013

I have put on an hitachi alt. 12 bat , 6 volt coil . the wires ,plugs , coil are all ancient so I am wondering about napas 12 coil and eliminate the ballast resistor, thoughts

carl
montana

Janicholson · Dec 4, 2013

It works either way the same. Through The resistor or not jim

old · Dec 4, 2013

6 to one or half dozen to the other. If it is not broke I sure as heck would not fix it because your more then likely to break if if you do

teddy52food · Dec 4, 2013

If you use the 6 volt coil with a resistor, you can add the circuit to by pass the resistor for better starting.

butch49 · Dec 4, 2013

the reason I was thinking of changing the coil and loosing the resistor is with the resistor the voltage at the coil was low through the resistor

Owen Aaland · Dec 4, 2013

(quoted from post at 22:25:27 12/04/13) the reason I was thinking of changing the coil and loosing the resistor is with the resistor the voltage at the coil was low through the resistor

The reason for the resistor is to keep the voltage at the coil the same with a 12 volt system as it was with the 6 volt system.

If the resistance of the coil is the same as that of the resistor that you use the input voltage at the coil will be 1/2 of the system voltage.

By using a resistor with a little less resistance than the coil you will have a bit more voltage at the coil. You can then also vary the capacitance of the capacitor to control the metal transfer on the contact points for longer life.

Bob · Dec 4, 2013

I agree. A ballast resistor system IS better in that way.

butch49 · Dec 4, 2013

thanks for the info. minus 11 here so will be waiting for warmer weather before I get back to it

carl
montana

mkirsch · Dec 5, 2013

(quoted from post at 20:35:24 12/04/13) I agree. A ballast resistor system IS better in that way.

Why?

With a ballast resistor, you have two extra connections and another component to fail on you.

All the resistors I've tried lately are JUNK. Fragile, feels like it's going to fall apart in your hands straight out of the package. The terminals are floppy and the connection is poor, using extremely thin wire. You break the ceramic if you push too hard plugging the wires on.

...and you're expecting one of these to hold up over time on a shaking, rattling old tractor?

The last resistor setup I tried only gave about 3V at the coil. Tractor wouldn't even fire.

12V coils for me.

F-Dean · Dec 5, 2013

The price of the resistor is about the same as a new 12-volt. Why not buy a new 12-volt coil and be done?

BuckShot Farms · Dec 6, 2013

Just put a new 12v coil with built in resister from napa it was around 25 bucks it works great.

coil and ballast resistors

butch49

Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

old

Well-known Member

teddy52food

Well-known Member

butch49

Member

Owen Aaland

Well-known Member

Bob

Well-known Member

butch49

Member

mkirsch

Well-known Member

F-Dean

Well-known Member

BuckShot Farms

New User

Similar threads