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Re: Ballast resistor question

To: "Mark Anderton" <andertonm@cox.net>
Subject: Re: Ballast resistor question
From: "Gary Fluke" <res0s0t7@verizon.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 20:40:35 -0700
Mark,

Yep, otherwise every circuit would be a short circuit...


Gary
'73

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Anderton" <andertonm@cox.net>
To: <tr6@kc4sw.com>; "TR6 Triumph" <tr6_1969@hotmail.com>;
<6pack@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 3:45 PM
Subject: Re: Ballast resistor question


> 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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