Ballast Resistor
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: columbus oh
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,078
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From: Riverhead New York
Your Ignition System when the Engine is starting is robbed of Voltage by the Starter Motor's huge appetite. Hence the engineers have the Distributor served by all the Voltage available via bypassing the Resistor. Known as the Primary Circuit. (This delivers somewhere between 12V-13.5V). Once your engine is running, the Ignition System needs less Voltage and also is benefited in longer service life by having the Resistor drop the Voltage to approx. 9.5V. Known as the Secondary Circuit. The Heat you feel is the Resister dissipating that unneeded Voltage. Al W. 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 10,346
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From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
Also might want to check your dwell. Higher dwell angle will increase the time the resistor is heating up (more dwell = more time the points are closed).
But there is a good reason the ballast resistor is wound on a ceramic base!
Plasticman
But there is a good reason the ballast resistor is wound on a ceramic base!
Plasticman
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Clermont Florida
Your Ignition System when the Engine is starting is robbed of Voltage by the Starter Motor's huge appetite. Hence the engineers have the Distributor served by all the Voltage available via bypassing the Resistor. Known as the Primary Circuit. (This delivers somewhere between 12V-13.5V). Once your engine is running, the Ignition System needs less Voltage and also is benefited in longer service life by having the Resistor drop the Voltage to approx. 9.5V. Known as the Secondary Circuit. The Heat you feel is the Resister dissipating that unneeded Voltage. Al W.
The secondary circuit makes and carries the spark, and consists of the secondary portion of the coil, the coil and plug wires, the distributor cap and rotor, and the spark plugs. It carries 10,000 to 50,000 volts, depending on the strength of the coil, but little current.
Last edited by landshark 454; May 20, 2009 at 12:12 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Washington Michigan
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Le Mans Master
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From: Richmond Kentucky
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Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I installed one of the SE breakerless setups by Lectric Limited in my new ZL-1, using a stock tach drive distributor with a new GM B28 vac cannister. Initially, the engine would not fire with the ballast resistor connected, but did start just fine when it was bypassed. After reading all the comments, I am concerned about burning up the coil, which is the current BWD (Borg Warner I think) #E30P from O'Reiley's Auto parts.
Comments, suggestions always welcome.
Thanks,
Rex
Comments, suggestions always welcome.
Thanks,
Rex
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,640
Likes: 0
From: DeBary Fl. Amateur Radio Operator K3CQR
Ceramic base, we don't need no stinkin ceramic base, used a old mouse trap with the workings taken off, screwed the res to the wood, screwed to firewall, good to go.Love the smell of charring wood, only problem, they only last about a week. Think I go to a 1x2 next time
Bill.
Last edited by Bill Irwin; May 21, 2009 at 10:39 PM. Reason: spelling
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I installed one of the SE breakerless setups by Lectric Limited in my new ZL-1, using a stock tach drive distributor with a new GM B28 vac cannister. Initially, the engine would not fire with the ballast resistor connected, but did start just fine when it was bypassed. After reading all the comments, I am concerned about burning up the coil, which is the current BWD (Borg Warner I think) #E30P from O'Reiley's Auto parts.
Comments, suggestions always welcome.
Thanks,
Rex
Comments, suggestions always welcome.
Thanks,
Rex
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 312
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio Texas
These coils are driving me nuts. I bought my 66 427/390 3 years ago and it already had a pertronix igniter and stock coil in it. And there is no ballast resistor on the firewall. I checked this stock coil with my new multimeter, and I got the same readings as I did with a brand new NAPA , made in USA coil, and a brand new flame thrower I and II coil.
So I am a witness that my coil did fine for over 3 years with out a ballast resistor and with a pertronix igniter.
I am installing a flamethrower II coil in my car today , which has instructions saying it does not need a ballast resistor.
I will now find out if the car runs the same or better with the new coil.
So I am a witness that my coil did fine for over 3 years with out a ballast resistor and with a pertronix igniter.
I am installing a flamethrower II coil in my car today , which has instructions saying it does not need a ballast resistor.
I will now find out if the car runs the same or better with the new coil.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,158
Likes: 395
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada NS
Mine did as well in my 1960... Last fall I replaced the stock distributor with a MSD HEI unit which allowed me to toss the ballast resistor...
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 312
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio Texas
Update on my coil.. Yesterday my 3 year old stock coil ( probably a lot older but I have only had the car 3 years) , with no ballast resistor and does have the pertronix igniter, tested out better on a multimeter than a brand new flamethrower II from Corvette Central.
So Dan Martin, Corvette guru down here at Hill Country Vettes, decided to leave the stock coil in the car since the car is running fine the way it is...
I showed Dan the article from Corvette Fever magazine on coil testing, and Dan thinks the author got his ohms and volts mixed up, because something is not right about the testing method stated in the article..
So Dan Martin, Corvette guru down here at Hill Country Vettes, decided to leave the stock coil in the car since the car is running fine the way it is...
I showed Dan the article from Corvette Fever magazine on coil testing, and Dan thinks the author got his ohms and volts mixed up, because something is not right about the testing method stated in the article..
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 10,346
Likes: 672
From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
I am going to "brutal". If the author was Tom Bedford (in the Corvette Fever article), I would not trust anything he writes.
He has screwed up way too many times, and I don't understand how they keep him on.
Plasticman
He has screwed up way too many times, and I don't understand how they keep him on.
Plasticman