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Re: Ignition Voltage Question

To: Steve Laifman <SLaifman@socal.rr.com>
Subject: Re: Ignition Voltage Question
From: Steve Sage <ssage@socal.rr.com>
Date: Sun, 30 May 2004 01:49:19 -0700
Steve L:
As I mentioned in my email, I bypassed the ballast resistor when I did 
my original install so that is not the problem. I am going to trace the 
hot wire back from the coil to the ignition switch today to try and 
figure whener the voltage loss is occuring.
Steve Sage

Steve Laifman wrote:

> Steve,
>
> REMOVE the ballast resistor.  It is not required, or desired, for the 
> Pertronix electronics breaker or the full 12 volt coil.
>
> Most early systems on US cars used 9 volt coils, and reduced the 12 
> volt source to the required 9 volts with a massive resistor.  This 
> resistor was by-passed with the ignition switch when in the "start" 
> (run the starter) position to enhance the voltage to the coil to 12 
> volts for a short time.  The coil would burn out if the voltage was 
> not dropped to 9 volts, as it is when the key is released and the 
> switch returns to the "run" position and puts the resistor back into 
> the circuit.
>
> NON of this is necessary for the Pertronix, and can hurt performance 
> with low coil energization.  Your problem is potentially a miswired 
> system that supplies the Pertronix Coil only 9 volts. This is 
> insufficient for that hot coil. Read coil installation instructions.
>
> Remove the resistor and make sure that the 12 volt energizing wire, 
> AND the "start" position wire are both connected to the input of the 
> Pertronix Ignitor, per the installation instructions from Pertronix, 
> Page 2. FIGURE 1.  Figure 2 is for 9 volt coils, and I have no idea 
> why they put this in as an alternative.  Mine runs fine as per Figure 
> 1, using a 12 volt hot Accel coil.
> Steve
>
> Steve Sage wrote:
>
>> Hello Bob:
>> The ballast resistor was bypassed on installation. I will start 
>> heading backwards, as you suggest, until I find higher voltage and 
>> hopefully find what's going on. Thanks for the idea.
>> Steve Sage
>>
>> Bob Palmer wrote:
>>
>>> Steve - For starters, make sure the ballast resistor isn't in the 
>>> circuit.
>>> Then start at the coil and work backwards with the voltmeter to 
>>> determine
>>> where the big voltage drop (or several small voltage drops) is.





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