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| | | | Joined: Sep 2015 Posts: 78 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2015 Posts: 78 | Having converted my 6v 50 Chevy to 12v I understand that I need to use a ballast to reduce the voltage to protect the coil and points from burning out once the truck is running. My question is how do I wire the ballast resistor in? The 50 Chevy has a foot starter. When the key is on, 12 v goes to the + terminal of the coil. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,232 Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part | | Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,232 | The ballast resister should be located somewhere on the wire going into the positive side of the coil.
Chris | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,001 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,001 | You need to wire it so that 12v goes to the coil during start, and after starting, when your key goes to the on/run position you have voltage going to the coil through your ballast resistor.
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter | | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,232 Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part | | Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,232 | Detroit,
If he has a stock ‘50, there is no start and run. He should have a stomp start and a run/ off at the key. If I remember correctly, there are 3 terminals on the back side of key switch. I think they were power in, accessories, and the run wire going to the coil. The ballast should be somewhere between the key switch and positive Side on the coil.
The stomp starter should have the positive battery cable connected as the “starter wire”, otherwise my 51 doesn’t have a “starter wire” stock that I know of.
Sorry if I use wrong terminology or verbiage.
Chris | | | | | Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 112 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 112 | You're right, ndkid275. I forgot.  Thanks for taking the time to correct me. Sometimes I wish there was a "delete post" button. For times like these. :grrr: Thanks again! --Chris
Last edited by Rusty Rod; 10/30/2018 3:01 PM.
'64 Chev C20 LWB stepside (Ol'Blue)
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,232 Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part | | Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,232 | No worries, I’m not a smart man, but I did get to fix my wiring more than once AND I burnt up a few too many coils before the idiot light came on in my head that my ballast resistor was not in the truck!
Ops! All good!
Have a good night.
Chris | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | The foot start switch for 12 volt applications (55-62) has a small side terminal that bypasses the ballast resistor during starting. Rock Auto has those switches in stock and they're a bolt-on replacement on the 6V starter, which can still be used when the 12V conversion is done.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,232 Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part | | Moderator: Interiors, Texas Bolters, Name that Part Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 2,232 | Thanks Jerry! I forgot about that! | | |
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