Smoking ballast resistor
03-15-2011, 12:48 PM
#21
Le Mans Master
03-15-2011, 12:53 PM
#22
Team Owner
Yeah - and people used to put a copper penny in their home fuse box to replace a blown fuse...and there WAS no 9-1-1 back then !!
03-15-2011, 01:05 PM
#23
Possibly the comments about a smoking or smoked BR are meant two different ways- literally and figuratively.
If the ignition is left on and there is oil or paint on the BR it will get hot enough to 'burn off' the contaminants producing visible smoke, but without the BR itself failing or burning out.
Having worked for an engine OEM in the aviation industry, we used to see components occasionally returned from the field with a tag reading that it had been 'smoked' as slang saying that it had 'failed'. In one occasion a newb inspector put a record in the engine history file stating that the engine had been destroyed in a fire. Other times we would see tags using the word 'toast'.
I'm sure that with bazillions of cars that were out there with ceramic block BRs and owners innocently leaving the keys on would have given notice to a design problem if there was one to start with.
If the ignition is left on and there is oil or paint on the BR it will get hot enough to 'burn off' the contaminants producing visible smoke, but without the BR itself failing or burning out.
Having worked for an engine OEM in the aviation industry, we used to see components occasionally returned from the field with a tag reading that it had been 'smoked' as slang saying that it had 'failed'. In one occasion a newb inspector put a record in the engine history file stating that the engine had been destroyed in a fire. Other times we would see tags using the word 'toast'.
I'm sure that with bazillions of cars that were out there with ceramic block BRs and owners innocently leaving the keys on would have given notice to a design problem if there was one to start with.
03-15-2011, 01:12 PM
#24
Team Owner
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03-15-2011, 07:34 PM
#26
Instructor
Thread Starter
Thank you all so much for your input
Thanks everyone for jumping in and offering your suggestions. I am starting to think I should just keep the BR in the car and keep the points (yes, I actually like changing and adjusting them). I will just learn not to leave the ignition in the ON position and if I have to so that I can check some wiring or listen to the radio with my girlfriend (boy, will my wife be mad), I'll pull the + wire off the coil first.
I love all the dialog that goes on in these long threads. There is so much knowledge in this forum. That's what makes restoring this 60 and becoming a "Corvette Guy" again so much fun. My streetrodding days are over (but boy driving a 750hp blown ****** sure was a blast).
Take care and thanks again,
Rick
I love all the dialog that goes on in these long threads. There is so much knowledge in this forum. That's what makes restoring this 60 and becoming a "Corvette Guy" again so much fun. My streetrodding days are over (but boy driving a 750hp blown ****** sure was a blast).
Take care and thanks again,
Rick
03-15-2011, 11:11 PM
#27
Le Mans Master
glad youre going to keep it!
just keep some extra parts, you can spend more time in the garage now drinking beer
and i agree it's fun to change points.....
just keep some extra parts, you can spend more time in the garage now drinking beer
and i agree it's fun to change points.....
03-17-2011, 12:53 PM
#28
Melting Slicks
I owned my 65 for nearly 20 years before I had the misfortune to leave the key in the 'On' position with the points apparently closed and it did indeed fry my ballast resistor. It was the original one from all I could tell though so no doubt had aged somewhat.
