The coil is rated for around 8 volts. Applying a full 12 volts will destroy
the coil. The ballast resister drops approximately 4 volts so the coil
receives its rated 8 volts. When cranking the battery voltage will drop to
around 8 volts, give or take a bit. This would result in a much reduced
spark. The ballast resister is bypassed while cranking so the coil will
deliver full output.
If you were to put in a 12 volt coil and remove the ballast you would have a
much reduced spark when cranking making the engine much harder to start. This
would be magnified greatly in cold weather.
Just for the record, it is the capacitor that protects the points. Without it
the points will burn in no time at all.
Best regards,
Fred Schroeder
roadster@schroeder-family.us
Home page: http://schroeder-family.us
NRA Life Member
Behold the superfluous. They are always sick. They
vomit their gall and call it a newspaper.
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche 1844-1900
----- Original Message -----
From: oliver
To: Roadster datsun roadster mailist
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 11:00 PM
Subject: ignition coil
question - i'm redoing an early 67 low windshield 1600, and am seriously
considering redoing the wiring, by myself.
my question - there is a resisitor/ballast, which from what i understand
lowers the voltage? to the ignition coil. can you get a "better" ignition
coil, which then won't require the resistor/ballast? how does this affect the
distributor, the spark plugs, etc, all the stuff that follows?
sorry - this electricity stuff is not something i know much about . . . .
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