The theory of the ballasted coil is that it provides an extra voltage boost whilst the engine is cranking to give a stronger spark whilst starting up. The new ballasted coil is designed to provide a normal spark at 8v rather than 12v.
What is a ballasted ignition system?
Ballasted ignition systems were designed to accommodate a wide range of operating conditions. A 3 ohm coil can only produce it's power when it is being supplied the necessary 12 volts. This means that in cold cranking situations when the batteries voltage dropped, the coil wasn't receiving enough power to create a spark.
What is the difference between a ballast and non-ballast ignition coil?
The reason the ballast type coil is not run at the full 12 volts, for a hotter spark, is to prevent damage to both the coil and the points. With a non-ballast coil, power is applied to the coil directly from the ignition switch, via a white wire.
How does an ignition ballast resistor work?
Generally, an ignition ballast resistor is placed between the primary source of the ignition coil and coil stud. It reduces the failure risk of the ignition coil. When the starter motor cranks the engine, the ignition ballast resistor helps to reduce the coil voltage and coil current. Therefore, low current causes a low-temperature rise.
What is the purpose of a ballasted coil?
The theory of the ballasted coil is that it provides an extra voltage boost whilst the engine is cranking to give a stronger spark whilst starting up. The new ballasted coil is designed to provide a normal spark at 8v rather than 12v.
Do all ignition coils need a ballast resistor?
And while ignition coil life may be compromised without a resistor, the additional secondary voltage (at the spark plug) is increased which generally improves power. So does your application require a ballast resistor? Quite simply, if your distributor has breaker points the answer is yes; if not, the answer is no.
What are the three types of ignition coils?
Breaker-point (mechanical) ignitions and high energy (electronic) ignitions are both distributor-based ignition, so another way to categorize is by three broader types of ignition system: distributor-based, distributorless and coil-on-plug systems.
What is an ignition ballast?
Generally, an ignition ballast resistor is placed between the primary source of the ignition coil and coil stud. It reduces the failure risk of the ignition coil. When the starter motor cranks the engine, the ignition ballast resistor helps to reduce the coil voltage and coil current.
Can I use a ballast coil on a non ballast system?
Using a non-ballasted coil would mean that you are running a 12v coil on a 9v feed, resulting in a weak spark. You can however use such coils provided you remove the ballast resister. Never try to run a ballasted coil when a ballast resistor is not present in the ignition system!
Which ignition coil is best?
Our pick for Best Overall, the Delphi GN10328 Ignition Coil, is engineered to meet OEM specs and is made from premium materials that provide great insulation. For a slightly cheaper option, consider the ENA 8-Pack Ignition Coil Set.
Is there a difference in ignition coils?
Automotive Ignition Coils Come In A Wide Range Of Shapes, Sizes And Applications. The distinct differences between coil designs make identification of optional coils relatively simple for both the parts specialist and the technician. Ignition coils come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and applications.
What is the difference between a ballast and non ballast ignition coil?
What is the difference between the two types of coils? Basically, a non-ballast coil is designed to produce full spark output with 12 volts on the input (+ terminal). A ballast coil is designed to produce the same spark output, but with only 6 to 9 volts on the input.
What is the purpose of using ballast?
The ballast provides for the proper operation of the negative-resistance device by limiting current. Ballasts can also be used simply to limit the current in an ordinary, positive-resistance circuit.
How do you test a ballast coil?
To test your ballast resistor you need an ohm meter or multimeter set to ohms. Remove the connectors from both sides of the resistor. The ohms should read between 1.8 and 5 ohms. You should be getting 9 volts to the positive side of the coil.
What happens if you don't use a ballast?
Without a ballast, a lamp or a bulb will rapidly increase its current draw and it can become uncontrollable as well. When a ballast is present in a lamp, the power becomes stable, and even if such lamps are connected to high power sources, the ballast will regulate the energy and avoid the current rise.
What happens if you don't bypass ballast?
Its job is to protect the fluorescent bulbs by controlling the flow of electrical current into the fixture. Since fluorescent bulbs cannot regulate current on their own, without a ballast, the bulbs can draw too much power and burn out.
What happens if you put LED light in with ballast?
You could destroy the LEDs. The ballast from fluorescent lights uses a much higher starting voltage (around 600 V) to get them started. It lasts for fractions of a second before dropping down to the normal line voltage. Depending on the LED circuit tolerances, it could be destroyed.
What are the types of ignition coils?
Types of Ignition CoilsDistributor Ignition Coils. With a distributor ignition coil, the ignition coil generates a high-voltage pulse. ... Block Ignition Coils. A block ignition coil contains multiple ignition coils. ... Pencil Coils. ... Ignition Coil Systems (“rails”)
What are the 3 types of gas ignition on a gas product?
A Guide to the Different Types of Gas Ignition SystemsStanding Pilot. A standing pilot must remain lit throughout the day so that heat can be made available at any time. ... Intermittent Pilot. An intermittent pilot solves a couple of problems common to older units. ... Hot Surface Ignition.
How many types of coils are there?
2 different typesThere are 2 different types of 'coil'; one has copper on it (IUD) and the other contains hormone (Mirena IUS). Both are over 99% effective at protecting against pregnancy.
What are the 3 types of spark plug?
Nowadays there are different kinds of spark plugs available in the markets to choose from i.e. copper, platinum and Iridium spark plugs. The copper spark plug is the most commonly used spark plug as it is the cheapest among the three.
Where does the power to the ballast coil come from?
Power to the ballast coil comes from the ignition switch to the resistance wire, and then to the coil. When the starter relay operates*, power from the battery, via a brown wire, is routed through the contacts of the relay, via a white/yellow wire, to the coil.
What is a non-ballast coil?
With a non-ballast coil, the input to the coil is the same, 12 volts, whether the engine is running , or being cranked by the starter motor. With a ballast coil, the starter relay 1 by-passes the ballast resister when the starter motor is spinning the engine, and applies the full 12 volts to the coil. Since the coil is designed to provide full spark with reduced voltage, the application of the full 12 volts produces a much hotter spark, which is an aid in starting. After the engine starts, and the starter motor is off, the coil voltage is dropped to the lower voltage, and the coil output is the same as for a non-ballast coil. The reason the ballast type coil is not run at the full 12 volts, for a hotter spark, is to prevent damage to both the coil and the points.
Why isn't my ballast coil running?
The reason the ballast type coil is not run at the full 12 volts, for a hotter spark, is to prevent damage to both the coil and the points. With a non-ballast coil, power is applied to the coil directly from the ignition switch, via a white wire.
How many volts does a non ballast coil have?
A ballast coil is designed to produce the same spark output, but with only 6 to 9 volts on the input.
Why is 12 volts hotter?
Since the coil is designed to provide full spark with reduced voltage, the application of the full 12 volts produces a much hotter spark, which is an aid in starting. After the engine starts, and the starter motor is off, the coil voltage is dropped to the lower voltage, and the coil output is the same as for a non-ballast coil.
How to switch from ballast to non ballast?
As for the modifications required to switch from a ballast coil to a non-ballast coil, it couldn’t be simpler – just run a wire from the most convenient white wire you can find (probably at the fuse box), directly to the + terminal of the coil (of course, all the rules of good wiring practice should be used). No need to remove the resistance wire, because it will now be constantly bypassed, just as it was before when cranking. This will work with any model Triumph, but there is an easier way with the ’74 – ’75 TR6. The resistor bypass wire from the starter relay to the coil (white/yellow) can simply be lifted from the relay terminal and moved to the fuse box terminal where the white wire is attached. The relay is located very close to the fuse box, and unless someone has modified the car with additional accessories, there is a spare terminal by the white wire that can be used.
Can you bypass a ballast resistor?
The ballast resistor will need to be bypassed for any coil that is designed to be used without one, whether it is a high performance coil, or just a replacement, for example, using a coil from an earlier model Triumph. In the TR6, the ballast resister was used only from ’74 and later.
What happens if the ballast resistor is not connected to the ignition coil?
If the ballast resistor is not connected with the ignition coil, the full supply voltage is applied to the ignition coil.
Why is the ignition ballast resistor important?
It reduces the failure risk of the ignition coil. When the starter motor cranks the engine, the ignition ballast resistor helps to reduce the coil voltage and coil current. Therefore, low current causes a low-temperature rise. And it results in a long life of the ignition coil.
What does a Ballast Resistor do?
Therefore, when we use the term ballast resistor, it refers to the fact that the ballast resistor is helping maintain the stability of the electrical circuit.
What happens to the voltage of a ballast when the current increases?
When the current passing through the lamp increase, the resistance of the ballast resistor increases. And it also increases the voltage drop across the resistor. When the current decreases, the temperature goes down and resistance decreases.
What happens to the resistance of a ballast resistor?
When the current flowing through the resistor increase, it increases the temperature of the ballast resistor. As a result, the resistance also increases. This type of ballast resistor is used in an incandescent lamp. When the current passing through the lamp increase, the resistance of the ballast resistor increases.
What is the name of the resistor used in the ignition system?
In a car engine, a ballast resistor is used in the ignition system. And it is known as an ignition ballast resistor.
How to increase the life of an ignition coil?
To increase the life of the ignition coil, we need to reduce voltage. and to fulfill this purpose, we connect a ballast resistor with the ignition coil . So, to test the ballast resistor, we can measure the voltage across the ignition coil. If the ballast resistor is good, it reduced the voltage level to 7-8V.
How many volts does a ballasted ignition coil send?
In order to maximize the coil's output during starting, ballasted ignitions have a ballast bypass which sends 12 volts directly to the coil during startup. This doesn't create any issues for the ballast because the jump wire now creates 12 volts on both sides of the resistor.
Do you need to regap spark plugs if you switch to sports coil?
If you do switch the a sports coil, you need to regap your spark plugs. If you fail to take that step, you will negate the benefits of the spark plug.
