>From: Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net>
>If you aren't sure, measure across the leads of the
>coil with an ohmmeter. If you achieve a 3 to 4 ohms reading, it has
>internal ballast. Less than that reading means it does not.
OK, I get 1.5 ohms across the poles on the coil (and 0.9 ohms on a spare;
both are Lucas). Means no ballast, correct (remember, I'm an electrical
idiot)?
>That block is probably the drive resistor and not ballast. If this >is
>the case, should be eliminated since it's function is to bias the
>internal electronics of the Lucas ignition not provide ballast.
I don't understand what a drive resistor means but since it is incompletely
wired, currently, I can just ignore it, correct?
>I think
>that most (if not all) Spits with Lucas electronic ignitions had
>resistive wire ballast. Check the wiring to see if it is still >there.
How would I know this? I thought the test for voltage drop (i.e. supposed to
drop below 8 volts and I got 9.3 v) was supposed to look for that. Is there
some other way to tell if this ballast wire is in the circuit?
Thanks, I appreciate the input. brent
>BJ Martin wrote:
> >
> > This is a running '77 1500. I'm trying to switch from the original Lucas
> > electronic ignition to a Crane. The car has a checkered past and while
>the
> > Lucas ignition is there, the ignition wiring does not look factory.
> >
> > The main concern I have is that the Crane says that it will only work
>off a
> > ballasted coil and I'm not sure mine is set up right. The test indicates
> > that coil votage should drop below 8 v in the "on" key position but mine
> > drops to 9.3 v (from 11.5 in the "off" key position). I am further
>concerned
> > because there is a finned aluminum block bolted to the air pump bracket
>-
> > which I interpret to be a ballast resistor - that is incompletely wired
>(has
> > a white wire with blue stripes from the main wiring harness going to one
> > side and nothing from the other side). It has run like this for the 5
>years
> > I have owned it but I'm afraid that it won't run once I remove the Lucas
>and
> > install the Crane.
> >
> > Any suggestions (note that I'm an electrical idiot)
> > thanks, brent
>
>--
>"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
> -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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