Pertronix's install question

[DavidBurke]

Installing pertronixs today and the install seems pretty easy but one thing has not been addressed so not sure what to do. The pertronix wires go to the coil however there are 2 additional wires on the coil 1 that goes to a restor looking thing under the fuse box and another to the starter relay, Are those 2 wires reused or disposed of?
I know some cars dr
p the voltage going to the starter I believe I read if your car has a balis resistor you have to bypass it

Any advice?

[Mark Norris]

The resistor is the Ballast Resistor which is bypassed during starting (so the coil gets the full 12V to make a nice fat starting spark, that'll be the 2nd wire you mentioned)) and in-line with the coil supply voltage (from the ignition switch) when the engine is running (that'll be the 1st wire). It knocks the coil input voltage down to circa 9v. Its got nothing to do with the starter motor voltage.

I don't know much about the Pertronix's system (I made and installed my own electronic ignition in 3186, purrs like a kitten) but I'd be surprised if the ballast resistor is not still required. You can't run a ballasted coil with no ballast for very long or it'll get very hot.


PS. presently starting on a multiple spark capacitive discharge ignition module for the Jaguar C-type, supposed to be quite a power improvement over the usually Kettering system (ie. points and coil), its the sort of thing you'd start to see strapped on top of engines in Grand Prix cars in the 1960s.

[Barry Wolk]

Because there's no points to burn up the lower voltage provided by the resistor is unwanted and should be disconnected. That's the beauty of Pertronix. If you run the high-voltage wires, plugs with am .045 gap, and hot coil the smell of unburned fuel goes away, which is a hazard as your senses cannot detect carbon monoxide.

[Barry Wolk]

The resistor is the Ballast Resistor which is bypassed during starting (so the coil gets the full 12V to make a nice fat starting spark, that'll be the 2nd wire you mentioned)) and in-line with the coil supply voltage (from the ignition switch) when the engine is running (that'll be the 1st wire). It knocks the coil input voltage down to circa 9v. Its got nothing to do with the starter motor voltage.

I don't know much about the Pertronix's system (I made and installed my own electronic ignition in 3186, purrs like a kitten) but I'd be surprised if the ballast resistor is not still required. You can't run a ballasted coil with no ballast for very long or it'll get very hot.


PS. presently starting on a multiple spark capacitive discharge ignition module for the Jaguar C-type, supposed to be quite a power improvement over the usually Kettering system (ie. points and coil), its the sort of thing you'd start to see strapped on top of engines in Grand Prix cars in the 1960s.

I did some further checking and multiple sources say the resistor is removed when using Pertronix. I was always told that the drop to 9-volts was to protect the points and condenser, but I believe that you pointed out that it was to protect the coil. I believe use of their "hot" coil negates the need for resistor, so you're 100% correct when using a standard coil.