Ohm's law says I=E/R, so if I add a resistance in series (the ballast), the
current flow is reduced. Granted, current flow is the same through all
components in the series circuit, but as I add resistive components (e.g. a
ballast resistor), the current through the coil is reduced.
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stephen Hanselman" <tr6@kc4sw.com>
To: "Mark Anderton" <andertonm@cox.net>; "TR6 Triumph"
<tr6_1969@hotmail.com>; <6pack@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 10:59 AM
Subject: RE: Ballast resistor question
> I have seen a number of comments here that indicate that the ballast
> resistor reduces the current. This is not the case. in any given series
> circuit, and anything that is across a battery is in general series with
the
> battery, the current flow is the same in all components. The change you
see
> is the voltage that is dropped across each individual component. The
> ballast resistor is used to drop the voltage that is supplied to the coil.
>
> This is also the reason that those real nice bullet splices get hot, then
> dirty, and then the lights quit working. As they age the resistance in
the
> connection builds forming a resistor (think ballast) which drops the
voltage
> available the lamp in question, which makes it dimmer. The catch-22 here
is
> that dropping the voltage generates heat which makes the connection worse,
> which causes the resistance to go up........
>
>
> Steve
> tr6@kc4sw.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-6pack@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-6pack@autox.team.net]On
> Behalf Of Mark Anderton
> Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 3:51 PM
> To: TR6 Triumph; 6pack@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Ballast resistor question
>
>
> The ballast resistor reduces the amount of current flowing through the
> points and coil. Advantages include less pitting of the points and cooler
> coil operation. If you check the voltage drop across the coil when the
> points are closed, you will get a reading of about 6 volts, which means
the
> other six is being dropped across the ballast resistor. In some cars, the
> resistor is a special wire, in others, it's a ceramic rectangle that has
> connections on each end for supply (ignition) and coil. You can buy this
> type of resistor at most auto parts stores. Most ignition systems with
> ballast resistors have a system for bypassing the resistor when the
starter
> motor is cranking, providing 12 V to the coil to start.
>
> Mark Anderton
> 72 TR6
> Virginia Beach
> http://members.cox.net/andertonm/car_stuff.html
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "TR6 Triumph" <tr6_1969@hotmail.com>
> To: <6pack@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, June 30, 2003 3:54 PM
> Subject: Ballast resistor question
>
>
> > Hi list!
> >
> > The posting speaking about the bad points possibly caused by lack of a
> > ballast resistor forces me to ask the questions: what is a ballast
> resistor
> > and what exactly does it do in the ignition circuitry. Further, why do
> some
> > systems have them and others do not? On the TR6 was it the earlier ones
> > that didn't have them but the later ones did? What does the ballast
> > resistor look like and where is it? Thank you.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Dave Herbert
> > 1969 TR6 and nothing else
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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