Early66L72

Getting conflicting information so i'll bring it up yo you all.. Do you need a Ballast resistor for the T.I. K66 set up in a 66 BB? If so suggestions on where to obtain one? Ecklers has Ballast resistors "except T.I.)

thanks

wolfman74c

You only need the ballast resister if you are using points, it lowers the voltage from 12 volts to 7-9 volts, and if wired to the r terminal on your start solenoid it applies 12 volts during cranking.

kenba

NO TI used a wire for resistance so there was not a ballast. In fact if you find holes for mounting it the car is not a original TI car.

Powershift

No............

Larry

desertpilgrim

Except if the original TI car was born and raised in a small town where the Chevy partsman and mechanic held a TI distributor in their hand and said "What's this?". Pretty soon, you had points and a new hole in the dash.

Early66L72

awesome.. thanks.. i had gathered a lot of T.I. parts when i had my 69 BB and just happened to have the correct numbered and dated parts for my 66 BB so i decided to put them in and back to work. can always take them out if i sell. ( not likely).

thanks

69427

There's two ballast resistors already in the stock TI harness. You don't need an additional one.

69427

You need a ballast resistor whether you're using points or a TI transistor switch. Otherwise both systems will burn up from excess current and power dissipation.

The ballast does not lower the operating voltage to 7-9 volts (it's a resistor, not a voltage regulator). The ignition system runs off of 12v battery or 13-14v alternator output. The points and coil deal with 12v at the start of every ignition event. It is only after the points close and the current starts to ramp up that the voltage across the coil gradually lowers from 12v.

The R terminal is there to shunt the ballast resistance to maintain sufficient coil current, not voltage, as the battery frequently drops well below 12v during cold weather cranking. It's rarely needed during warm weather easy cranking conditions.

The Ignition Physics Sticky in C3 Tech explains all this in more detail.

Early66L72

thanks, i'll take a look at the C3 Sticky and try and get educated again.. haven't had to work with K66 since my 69 and that was 20+ years ago, Got the Lectric Limited main and eng harness and the T.I. harness so i'll get up to speed before i hook up the new T.I. harness.

thanks jcw

MelWff

have you seen this wiring diagram?

http://www.tispecialty.com/articles/66-71diagram.htm

Early66L72

i have seen one similar but without all the notes and info.. thanks i saved this to my files for ref in a month or so when we try and wake this beast up after 40+ years of hibernation. i'm trying to refresh my memory from trying to keep my 69 BB T.I. working 20+ years ago.

thanks jcw