Charlie B. wrote:
> Joe,
>
> I'm not sure if the Spitfire ever had a ballast resistor mounted on the
> fire wall. I've just never seen one there. I've also never seen one
> on anything earlier than the Mk IV. I suppose on the early MK IVs there
> could have been a fire wall mounted ballast resistor, but beginning in
> 1973 they were tucked into the wiring harness.
I concur with your observation. Most of my Spit experiences are with those
manufactured
prior tp 1969. I have net seen any Ballast resistors on any of those either.
Nor does
Haynes indicate there were any. As for the MkIV, all I can go by is the
Schematic, and
it says nothing about where it is mounted. The only thing that Haynes says
about the
resistor is, "Later vehicles are fitted with a 6 volt coil coupled with a 6
volt ballast
resistance in series. Initially, the ballast took the form of a separate unit,
whereas
later vehicles have the ballast resistor as a resistance wire built into the
wiring
harness feed supply to the coil."
> I'm running a Crane XR700 and an after market 12v. coil, with the
> ballast resistor wire bypassed, on both my Spits. So far I've had no
> problems with my Crane units. The Crane unit doesn't care if the ballast
> is external or internal to the coil. Other units . . . I'm not so sure.
> The Crane instructions do indicate that if you're using a non-ballasted
> coil, external resistance must be used.
As am I. That appears to be the correct installation as stated in the book
that came
with the unit. I have looked high and low but can't seem to locate the
booklet. I know
there is a warning because I spent quite a long time making sure which type I
had before
installing it.
The GT6 engine I have has an external ballast resistor attached to the coil
itself.
Now I can't even remember who it is that initally asked the question.
Regards,
Joe Curry
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