Just wondering when MoPar first used the ballast ignition setup and why? What were the intended bennies over what other auto companys were using at the time? Just one of lifes little mysterys that keep me awake at night
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| History of ballast resistor ? https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25215 |
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| Author: | 6shotvanner [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | History of ballast resistor ? |
Just wondering when MoPar first used the ballast ignition setup and why? What were the intended bennies over what other auto companys were using at the time? Just one of lifes little mysterys that keep me awake at night
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| Author: | SlantSixDan [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:07 am ] |
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Ballast resistance came into use across all makers' cars when 12-volt electrical systems replaced 6-volt systems in the mid 1950s. The coil was left as a nominal 6v device, and the ballast resistor and cranking bypass were added. This improved engine starting and general ignition performance across a wider range of operating conditions than if they'd reëngineered the rest of the ignition system to run full time on 12v, which would've entailed some difficult and costly problems. |
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| Author: | Joshie225 [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:10 am ] |
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The ballast resistor started when Chrysler switched from 6V to 12V. Ford and Chevy used a resistance wire instead of a ballast resistor. The reason for the resistor is to drop the voltage at the coil. When cranking the engine though the ballast resistor or resistance wire is bypassed so the coil gets full voltage during cranking for easier starting. Keeping the resistance out of the harness means you can replace it if it goes bad rather than tearing into the harness. Some cars with a bad resistance wire would get a new piece of wire for the coil with a ballast resistor in line as a field repair. |
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| Author: | 6shotvanner [ Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:58 pm ] |
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Dan,Josh,thanks guys.So I was running a resistance wire on my old fords back in the day and didn't even know it. I'll be darned, so why was i never stranded by a bad "resistance wire" but I have on countless occasions had to change a ballast resistor to get going? Not complaining as I likes my MoPars,just wondering. 
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