Do you need a ballast resistor with electronic ignition?
Do you need a ballast resistor with electronic ignition?
Electronic ignition systems, whether factory Mopar or aftermarket, don’t utilize breaker points, thereby not actually needing a ballast resistor to control amperage through the pickup coil.
What happens when a ballast resistor goes bad?
If your ballast resistor is bad, your vehicle will not run and you will have to have it towed to the mechanic’s shop. The biggest sign your ballast resistor is bad is your vehicle will start, but immediately stop as soon as you let go of the key.
What does an ignition ballast resistor do?
The ballast resistor allows the ignition system to operate at a lower voltage until the engine starts. After ignition, the alternator begins to recharge the battery, restoring the regular voltage.
Do you need a resistor with a 12 volt coil?
If a 6 volt ignition system is converted to 12 volts and a Delco style 12 volt coil with an internal resistor is installed as part of the conversion, no external resistors are required. The 12 volt battery must be connected so the negative (-) battery terminal is connected to ground.
How do I know if I have a ballast resistor?
To test your ballast resistor you need an ohm meter or multimeter set to ohms. Remove the connectors from both sides of the resistor. The ohms should read between 1.8 and 5 ohms. You should be getting 9 volts to the positive side of the coil.
Why do some ignition coils need ballast resistor?
A Ballast Resistor is an electrical device that reduces voltage to the coil so that more energy is available for the spark plugs during starting. Why would a Ballast Resistor be fitted in a car? To counteract this distribution of energy, ignition systems were changed to use a 9v coil instead of a 12v coil.
What are the signs of a bad ballast?
2. Look for warning signs that the ballast is failing.
- Buzzing. If you hear a strange sound coming from your bulbs or light fixture, like a buzzing or humming noise, that’s often a sign your ballast is going.
- Dimming or flickering.
- No lights at all.
- Changing colors.
- Swollen casing.
- Burn marks.
- Water damage.
- Leaking oil.
What’s the difference between a ballast and non ballast coil?
A ballast coil is designed to produce the same spark output, but with only 6 to 9 volts on the input. With a non-ballast coil, the input to the coil is the same, 12 volts, whether the engine is running, or being cranked by the starter motor.
How do I know if my ignition coil has an internal resistor?
Do ignition coils need external resistors?
The short answer is: depends on coil resistance. Coils with ~1.5 ohm resistance need an external resistor while coils with ~3 ohms do not. Generally most commonly used coils for our motors are internal resistance types.
How do you know if a ballast needs replacing?
2. Look for warning signs that the ballast is failing.
- Buzzing. If you hear a strange sound coming from your bulbs or light fixture, like a buzzing or humming noise, that’s often a sign your ballast is going.
- Dimming or flickering.
- No lights at all.
- Changing colors.
- Swollen casing.
- Burn marks.
- Water damage.
- Leaking oil.
