[Healeys] Beware Pertronix

[Bob Spidell]

OK, I dug out my positive-ground Pertronix instructions out.  The +gnd unit has black and b/w wires, not red and black, 
and an additional ground lead is required--I used the b/w wire--so the installations are different.  Also, I have a 
'troubleshooting guide' that appears to be for neg-gnd cars, which appears to match your installation.

This from the instructions sums it up:  "The black/white Ignitor wire and AWG 20 copper wire should be the only wires 
connected to the coil."  Instead of using an AWG 20 wire I used the b/w wire to the cutoff switch relocated as I described.

The b/w wire on the cutoff switch is an open circuit when the cutoff switch is in the 'on' position--unless it's been 
modified--so your Pertronix is getting its ground from the coil and/or the distributor (per the troubleshooting 
diagram).  I suspect if you turn your cutoff switch to 'off' and jump your neg. battery terminal to ground your car will 
start.

I used the terms 'upstream' and 'downstream' hoping to avoid confusion; apparently it didn't work.

Points installation: wire from ignition switch->-/sw terminal on the coil->wire to distributor and points->ground; hence 
the points switch to ground

Pos-gnd Pertronix installation: wire from ignition switch->black Ignitor wire->B/W wire from Ignitor->neg/sw terminal on 
coil->wire from +/CB terminal on coil to ground; hence the (+gnd) Pertronix switches current prior ('upstream') to the coil

Bob


On 7/29/2012 4:56 PM, warthodson at aol.com wrote:
> I have been trying to understand this thread & I must admit I am confused. It seems like this is being made overly 
> complicated.
> Here is how I wired my Pertronix which is installed in the Lucas distributor.
> 1. My BJ8 is converted to negative ground. The battery switch is still installed & wired as original, except of course 
> the negative cable from the battery is connected to the switch.
> 2. The red wire from the Petronix is connected to the + (CB) terminal of the coil. The white wire from the 
> ignition switch is also connected to the +(CB) terminal.
> 3. The black wire from the Pertronix is connected to the - (SW) terminal of the coil. The white/black wire from the 
> battery disconnect switch is also connected to the -(SW) terminal.
> 4. The white/black wire from the coil to the distributor was removed.
> This has been working for 5 years.
> My battery disconnect switch still performs the anti-theft function as originally intended. Therefore, when the switch 
> is on the white/black is out of the circuit. I.E. It does not go to ground.
> Does anyone see anything wrong with this wiring?
> I do not understand how the Pertronix knows or cares if it is switching the current up stream or down stream of the 
> coil. It does care if the polarity is correct.
> Gary Hodson


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Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net

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