Dear M.G. and interested Listers,
A ballast resistor coil is used to
improving starting. The coil is rated for constant use at 6 or 8 volts
and will burn out with constant use at 12 volts. It will easily take
short period overloads, as it needs time to heat up before overheating
and burning out.
The ballast resistor reduces the current flowing through the
circuit and divides the Voltage potential, so that the Voltage drop
across the coil will be 8 Volts and the Voltage drop across the resistor
will be 4 Volts (where an 8V coil is fitted).
When you need to start the car, an additional wire is provided,
which bypasses the resistor and gives the full voltage of the battery to
the 8V coil. This is not the full 12 volts during starting, because the
starter motor takes a big current and this reduces the battery output
voltage whilst the starter is turning the engine. The wire normally
comes from an additional connection on the ignition switch, so that it
disconnects when the sprung part of the switch is released.
If this wire has NOT BEEN ADDED, or the ignition switch DOES NOT
CARRY THE EXTRA TERMINAL, it is unlikely that the ballast coil and
resistor are giving you any benefit. I have known people fit the
resistor wire to a terminal on the solenoid and fit a diode to prevent
current leakage, but this is poor practice and is unusual.
If there are only two wires at the coil and no additional wires
inserted between the ignition switch and the coil, I would recommend
that you return to the standard circuit.
Regards, Adrian.
---------------- ************ ----------------
Adrian H. Hanwell.
AHANWEL1@FORD.COM.
---------------- ************ ---------------------Original Message-----
From: owner-daimlan@jag-lovers.org
[mailto:owner-daimlan@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of M_G
Sent: 08 December 2006 07:20
To: daimlan@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [DaimLan] 2.5 V8 - Ignition Coil / Lumenition
Hello -
Once re-assembled (if ever . . . ) I will initially run the
car with the original points and ballasted coil (to be sure all the
wiring is correct etc).
Once happy all is in order - after a couple of hundred miles or so I
will fit a Lumenition Kit (already purchased)).
I enquired at David Manners recently - they only knew of having a plain
12v coil on these cars - not ballasted ?
Has anyone else fitted a Lumention Kit and if so - what was the result ?
Did you you have a ballasted coil / Lucas 12v coil or Lumenition coil ?
My Distributor is in good order, though the bearing is slightly worn
(not too badly though - hence the Lumenition kit).
thank you - M_G
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