Table of Contents
Does a ballast resistor reduce voltage?
The ballast resistor, supplies the needed voltage during the start up, and then immediately after the arc is established, it reduces the voltage in addition to regulating the current flow.
How many ohms should a ballast resistor have?
This will cause premature wear of the points and potentially lead to reduced coil life. To test your ballast resistor you need an ohm meter or multimeter set to ohms. Remove the connectors from both sides of the resistor. The ohms should read between 1.8 and 5 ohms.
How do you know if a ballast resistor is bad?
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Ballast Resistor Vehicle starts, then immediately dies. The most obvious symptoms will be the vehicle starts, but then immediately dies as soon as you release the key. Not starting at all. Don’t jump the resistor. Let the vehicle be.
What happens if you don’t use a ballast resistor?
All cars produced with breaker-points type ignition generally had a resistor of some sort in their ignition system. An ignition system with breaker points will surely suffer from reduced point life if the ballast resistor is removed, as higher amperage can damage the surface of the points causing failure.
What does a 12 volt ballast resistor do?
A Ballast Resistor is an electrical device that reduces voltage to the coil so that more energy is available for the spark plugs during starting.
What is the resistance of a 12 volt coil?
You should have a resistance reading of at least 3-4.5 ohms. A bad coil will show a higher reading then 3-4.5. Next, place the red or black lead from the meter to the centre of the coil , and to either one of the terminals positive or negative. You want 9500-10000 Ohms, a little less is ok but no more.
Where does a ballast resistor go?
Note: Ballast resistors are usually located bolted to the firewall if your distributor and/or coil is at the rear of the engine. If your distributor is located near the front or side of the engine in the case of an inline-4 cylinder, then it’s probably right near the ignition coil or distributor.
What does an automotive ballast resistor do?
Applications of a Ballast Resistor. A ballast resistor helps to regulate the current and voltage in an electrical system. It helps equipment from experiencing overcurrent and overvoltage events. Ballast resistors are mostly used in automotive and lighting applications.
Do I need a ballast resistor with Pertronix?
The Pertronix Ignitor Ignition System doesn’t care at all if there is a Ballast resistor in the car or not. Period. If your COIL requires one, leave it in the car. Pull the 12V (RED wire of the Ignitor) from the input side of the Ballast, so it gets the full voltage.
What causes a ballast resistor to fail?
The resistance through the ballast resistor varies with current flow which varies with engine rpm. This naturally causes the resistor to expand and contract from heat. That’s why they eventually fail.
Which circuit the ballast resistor is used?
Resistors in Light Emitting Diode (LED) Circuits The ballast resistor is used to limit the current through the LED and to prevent excess current that can burn out the LED. If the voltage source is equal to the voltage drop of the LED, no resistor is required.
How do you wire a ballast resistor?
Connecting a ballast resistor is a fairly straightforward project, but you will want to pay attention to the wiring. Step 1: Determine if Ballast Resistor Is Needed. Step 2: Locate Ballast Resistor along Firewall. Step 3: Drill Holes for Securing Resistor. Step 4: Install Ballast Resistor. Step 5: Connect Wires to Positive.
How do you test a 12 volt coil with a multimeter?
Insert one of the multimeter’s probes into the center opening of the coil, contacting the metal terminal inside the coil. Touch the second probe of the meter to the ignition coil’s grounding terminal. The meter should read 6,000 to 15,000 ohms. If it does not, the coil’s secondary winding is faulty.
What is the difference between a ballast and non ballast coil?
A ballast coil is designed to produce the same spark output, but with only 6 to 9 volts on the input. With a non-ballast coil, the input to the coil is the same, 12 volts, whether the engine is running, or being cranked by the starter motor.
Does a ballast resistor have polarity?
Resistors are not like diodes or capacitors. They do not have a polarity. The conduct (or resist) current equally in both directions of current flow.
Do I need a ballast resistor with MSD ignition?
Late-model electronic ignitions or an MSD Ignition do not require the ballast. If you are looking to upgrade your stock coil, or want to compliment the performance of your MSD Blaster Ignition, MSD 5, 6, or 7, the Blaster Coil line is the right choice. Our Blaster Coils are designed for improved spark output!.
How do I test a resistor with a multimeter?
Pick out a random resistor and set the multimeter to the 20kΩ setting. Then hold the probes against the resistor legs with the same amount of pressure you when pressing a key on a keyboard. The meter will read one of three things, 0.00, 1, or the actual resistor value.
How do you know if a resistor is good or bad?
A good resistor should test within its rated range. A bad resistor will either show infinite resistance or a measurement far higher than its rated resistance. In either case the resistor is no longer functioning properly.
