2 wires on ballast resistor

[MikeMc]

Fixing up the D100 engine compartment with some goodies (ya I know the valve covers look like crap but the chrome covers are lost in the mail). The new electronic ignition says to bypass the resistor and run 12 volts to it. On the low voltage side of the ballast are two wires coming off it. One goes to the distributor but were does the other one go? Does the other one need to have the voltage reduced?

Thanks, M-

[HellBelly]

Dang,, this is good point.. I spliced mine together and never thought about that.. Maybe someone has the answer before i can look at the wiring diagram tomorrow.

[mopardwh]

The new electronic ignition...

Mopar or other? Did you just install it?

[MikeMc]

This is the distributor that I bought. Also got high output coil and 8.5 mm wires.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370501611035?ss ... 1439.l2649

[mopardwh]

I was wondering that. Same thing both Scott and I just installed. (Except small block).

Anyway, I can't see anything requiring reduced voltage other than the Mopar coils.

[robertob]

It's connected to the start wire from the ignition switch. So when you turn the switch to 'start' the coil gets full voltage from the switch.

A coil ignition system with a ballast resistor is designed to produce max spark at 8 volts. So when you are starting the engine and the starter load takes a big chunk of battery voltage, the ignition system still produces full spark down to 8 volts (because it's fed by the start side of the switch). Then when the ignition switch is in 'run' the voltage goes through the ballast resistor to the coil, keeping it down around 8 volts to keep things cool.

That's how you know the ballast resistor is bad - if the engine runs as long as the starter motor is running but dies when you stop trying to start.`

[Nuthinbutmopar]

To keep the look stock, just gut the ballast resistor an put a piece of 10 gauge wire in the back of there.