>Date: Thu, 06 Nov 1997 07:57:32 -0500
>To: Nory@webtv.net (Nory)
>From: Brian Evans <brian@uunet.ca>
>Subject: Re: Spark
>
>Early cars used internal resistor coils. Later cars went to external
resistor coils. I don't know when, I suspect around 1969. Both types give
about 9 volts to the coil under normal operating conditions. Using an
internal resistor with an external resistor as well (which as Nory points
out is often a resistive wire rather than a big lump like the Chrysler
resistor) will give very poor performance as the coil sees maybe 6 volts at
that point. Clue is that the car will be very hard to start, but will run
once it's going. Using an external resistor coil without a resistor gives
the coil the full battery voltage, and tends to burn the points quite
quickly, and probably won't help the coil mutch either. The condenser is
there to limit the sparking of the points, and hence the erosion and pitting.
>
>Exceptions - Many later cars have an extra terminal on the solenoid so that
the resistor is bypassed during starting - giving higher voltage to the coil
while the starter motor is drawing down the voltage. Also, I often run an
external resistor coil without a resistor on race cars, since I don't care
if the points burn out fast, and there is no generator, hence only battery
voltage to fire the coil.
>
>Brian
>
>
>At 01:49 AM 06/11/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>Larry,
>>I can only help with your last question. I'm guessing your resistor is
>>there for the same reason mine is: the car's resistance wire
>>failed/burned up/shorted out/etc...... We had a thread on the MGs list
>>on this not too long ago and some other listers had the resistor too and
>>wondered about it. It's actually a Chrysler part, but it works. My car
>>was burning up coils like crazy until I put it in (thanks to my local
>>club's tech advisor). Never a problem since.
>>
>>-NORY
>>Don't assume that because you have found one problem, you have found the
>>ONLY problem.
>>
>> '74 Midget & '71 parts car
>> '94 Ford Ranger
>> '86 Ford Escort
>> '89 Ford Probe
>> '96 North American Shepherd
>> 2 cats (handiest shop tools around)
>>http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Way/9101
>>
>
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