Joe, Richard, et al,
After dealing with quite a few Spits, I've never seen a stock ballast
resistor mounted on the fire wall next to the coil. Depending on the
year, there was a drive resistor that was part of the electronic
ignition. It was ususlly mounted to one of the alternator or air pump
bolts.
Are we sure that it's really a ballast resistor, or is it the capacitor
that's attached to the "+" coil terminal to suppress radio interference?
If it is indeed a ballast resistor, it could have been installed by a
well intentioned DPO. I've got a '73 Mk IV/1500 and its ballast resistor
is wrapped in the port side engine bay wiring harness.
Hope that clears up the muck,
Charlie B.
ps. And, I'm not an expert either!
> Richard Ceraldi-ERC004 wrote:
>
> > Joe Wrote:
> > "I don't think any of the Spitfires had external ballasts."
> >
> > Joe and Hans,
> > I have a MKIV that has the resistor mounted on the firewall next to the
>coil.
> > Other model have them buried in the harness.
> > Hans, always take information from the "experts" with a grain of salt.
>
> Richard,
> I have already been corrected on my faux pas, thank you. I noticed that
> you only
> included the error in your correction and not the real point I was
> attempting to
> make. The point was (and still is) that if you have a ballast resistor
> in the
> circuit, you must wire the Crane electronic ignition differently than if
> you
> don't. The installation booklet explains both installations.
>
> I never claimed to be an "expert" on Spits or anything else. I simply
> offer what
> I consider helpful or useful information that I have at hand or from
> experience.
> And please note that I said I didn't "think" any Spits had ballast
> resistors. I
> have gone back and looked at the Haynes manual and indeed you are
> correct. It
> appears that all MkIV Spits have Ballast Resistors, and most 1500's have
> resistive wire used as ballast as was previously pointed out.
>
> Thank you for your astute observation, I stand corrected. Now I will
> humbly
> cower in the corner anxiously awaiting the next EMAIL that is intended
> as a
> put-down with no constructive intent.
>
> Regards,
> Joe Curry
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