[TR] Ballast resistors and Electronic ignition

[Wayne Lee]

Hi Eric,
     I learned one thing today, and I suspect You will too. For me it's that 
a 76 TR6 had electronic Ignition. I thought my 75 was the same as a 76. That 
is that it had a Points, Condensor, and Ballasted Ignition system. I think 
what Randall was refering to was having a 6 Volt Coil running on 12 Volts. 
I don't claim to know the effect on the Pertronix module, but I think it's 
possible to damage it from such a mistake.
    The Ballast is inline in the wiring from the Ignition Switch on my 75 
TR6.

Wayne Lee
Douglas,MA
58 TR3
64 TR4
75 TR6

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric Butschek" <ebutschek at austin.rr.com>
To: "Randall" <tr3driver at ca.rr.com>; <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 3:49 PM
Subject: [TR] Ballast resistors and Electronic ignition


>I dissagree...
>
> ballast resisters were used with points ignitions in the 60's
>
> when everyone went to electronic ignitions in the 70's... they lost the
> ballast resistor and the 2nd hot wire from the solenoid...
>
> I mean what is the amperage draw through a Pertronix Ignition Modual?....
> 100 milli amps max? Over heat the coil?
>
> This is a 76 TR6.. it allready had electronic ignition... there's no
> "hidden" ballast ressistor... the ones I've replaced are as big as my 
> thumb
> and usually mounted to the firewall next to the coil..
>
> I do agree that the coils probably should be matched to the system, check
> with the manufactor, as on motorcycles with new ignitions ( Dyna, IIS) 
> that
> are fully computer chip controled, No centrificul advance, they do 
> recomend
> higher impedence? coils.
>
> Man I love this list!
> Eric, Austin Tx.