I want to get something figured out here.
I just read a thread on a engine not firing, I notice there was a lot of talk about if a ballast resistor was being used or not.
I have a 12 volt conversion on my truck, with a 12 volt coil, starter and generator. With the 12 volt coil, do I STILL need a ballast resistor in line? Can't the 12 volt coil handle the 12 volts from the ignition switch? If not why even change the coil from the original 6 volt coil?
I just purchased a 12 volt ceramic ignition resistor last weekend from the auto parts store, I thought I could use it on my heater blower motor, decided it wouldn't handle the amperage draw. HONESTLY, I couldn't really see what it did at first. I hooked up my 12 volt power supply with a meter in-line through the resistor it still read 12 volts. Then I put a 12 volt light bulb on it and I saw it was definitely dimmer, must need a small draw of current to work correctly.
What happens when one isn't installed? does it just burn up the points sooner? I am guessing the resistor is installed on the "POSITIVE" side of the coil. Right now my coil hot lead comes from the switch with NO resistor and my truck is "NEGATIVE" grounded. If so, that could explain all the used set of burnt points left in the glove compartment.
Someone please explain this to me in STUPID terms. I'm a machinist, not a electrical engineer.
CONFUSSED JOHN
