Not all 12v coils are the same. They come in three distinct varieties.
One runs on 12 volts, and that's it.
One runs on 6 volts, and requires a ballast to do this (this is the common oem
type).
One runs on 12 volts, but has an internal ballast in the coil can to drop it
down to about 6 volts.
All are called 12 volt coils to ensure maximum confusion.
The 2nd one above is also sometimes referred to as a 6 volt coil. On vehicles
with 6 volt electrical systems, you can then run down the above tree again with
a 6 volt coil.
Coils do not run hot. That's not normal. Warm is normal, but not hot.
Especially not getting hot after a few minutes.
This would lead me to believe the coil you have is of the second type listed
above. It's a 12 volt unit, but designed to have an external ballast.
Those electronic ignitions are all designed to run on 12 volts. That can
create a little problem, as many points type ignitions have two leads coming to
them. One giving the full 12 volts when cranking, the other dropping it down
to 6 volts via a resistor wire or ballast once the engine is not being cranked
over on the starter motor. The wiring instructions for them will give the
necessary steps to ensure a full 12 volts comes to them.
This means you have to be careful about using a ballasted coil with them. In
fact, it's best to not use one. If you do, you've got to ensure that only the
coil is ballasted, and not the ignition module.
If you "overdrive" a ballasted coil it will survive...for a while. How long is
a function of how well the coil can handle the heat. Some handle it well and
go on for years. Others burn up in a matter of minutes.
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