A ballast resistor
Resistor
A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. Resistors act to reduce current flow, and, at the same time, act to lower voltage levels within circuits. In electronic circuits, resistors are used to limit current flow, to adjust …
What does a ballast resistor do in an ignition system?
- Vehicle starts, then immediately dies. The most obvious symptoms will be the vehicle starts, but then immediately dies as soon as you release the key.
- Not starting at all. If the ballast resistor is not working properly, the vehicle will not start.
- Don't jump the resistor.
- Let the vehicle be.
Do I need a ballast resistor?
The ballast resistor is used in automotive applications. It is used to reduce the voltage level of the ignition coil. To test the ballast resistor, we need an ohmmeter and multimeter. If the ballast resistor is not connected with the ignition coil, the full supply voltage is applied to the ignition coil.
How to replace a ballast resistor?
Steps
- Before you go to the trouble of replacing the ballast, you should determine if a bad ballast is indeed the likely cause of the problem.
- Remove the lamps and place them in a safe location.
- Turn the light off at the switch, as well as at the circuit breaker. ...
What does ballast resistor mean?
ballast resistor noun An electrical resistor whose resistance varies with the current passing through it, and thus tends to maintain a constant current Matched Categories
What happens if you dont use ballast resistor?
An ignition system with breaker points will surely suffer from reduced point life if the ballast resistor is removed, as higher amperage can damage the surface of the points causing failure.
Does a ballast resistor lower voltage?
The ballast resistor, supplies the needed voltage during the start up, and then immediately after the arc is established, it reduces the voltage in addition to regulating the current flow.
Where does a ballast resistor go?
Note: Ballast resistors are usually located bolted to the firewall if your distributor and/or coil is at the rear of the engine. If your distributor is located near the front or side of the engine in the case of an inline-4 cylinder, then it's probably right near the ignition coil or distributor.
Is a ballast resistor necessary with electronic ignition?
The electronic ignition systems don't use breaker points, so they don't need a ballast Resistor to control the pickup coil.
How many volts should a ballast resistor have?
9 voltsTo test your ballast resistor you need an ohm meter or multimeter set to ohms. Remove the connectors from both sides of the resistor. The ohms should read between 1.8 and 5 ohms. You should be getting 9 volts to the positive side of the coil.
How do you bypass a ballast resistor?
11:0812:28Pertronix flamethrower and ballast resistor bypass on the ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you're watching you want to know how to bypass your ballast resistor to use a flamethrowerMoreSo if you're watching you want to know how to bypass your ballast resistor to use a flamethrower coil. It's that simple guys two jumper wires. Save your plugs.
How do I know if I have a ballast resistor?
0:031:01Ballast Resistor - How to Test - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow reach in the car. And turn the key to the on. Position. If you get something in the neighborhoodMoreNow reach in the car. And turn the key to the on. Position. If you get something in the neighborhood of about 12 volts the car does not have a ballast resistor.
What does a resistor do?
A resistor is an electrical component that limits or regulates the flow of electrical current in an electronic circuit. Resistors can also be used to provide a specific voltage for an active device such as a transistor.
What is a load resistor used for?
Load resistors are used for impedance matching, maximum power transfer and to improve output stability as well as to ensure a minimum of current flow. Load resistors are used at the output of a circuit to increase or decrease the power to the load.
Do you need a ballast resistor with a HEI distributor?
No ballast resistor is used or required with HEI. All you are doing with the ballast resistor is lowering the voltage to the HEI (and therefore output voltage to the plugs will be lower, with the possible result of misfire). Remove the ballast resistor when using the HEI.
Does a Mallory Unilite distributor need a ballast resistor?
When using the Mallory unilite distributor part #(4768901) and if your using with a coil that has less than 1.2 ohms than you DO need a ballast resister. If your using one thats over 1.2 ohms than you don't need one.
How many ohms should a 12 volt coil have?
You should have a resistance reading of at least 3-4.5 ohms. A bad coil will show a higher reading then 3-4.5. Next, place the red or black lead from the meter to the centre of the coil , and to either one of the terminals positive or negative. You want 9500-10000 Ohms, a little less is ok but no more.
Why is a ballast resistor used?
A ballast resistor is used in a circuit to limit the current and hence prevent it from over current faults. Here, as the current in the circuit varies and increases above a particular threshold value, the resistance also starts to increase. This in turn decreases the current and protects the circuit from over current faults.
What are the advantages of using a ballast resistor?
The advantages of using this type of ballast resistors is that it gives a more precise current control than an appropriate fixed resistor . Another advantage is that the power lost in the resistive ballast gets reduced as a smaller portion of the overall power is dropped in the ballast compared to a fixed resistor.
What happens to the ballast resistor as the current increases?
As the current through the lamp increases, the ballast resistor gets heated up and the resistance thus increases with the rising temperature and the voltage drop across the resistor increases. If current decreases, the temperature of the ballast resistor goes down, its resistance and thus its voltage drop decreases.]
Why do cars have ballast resistors?
Nowadays car engines have a ballast resistor kit, along with the ignition kit, to protect the coils. Other application in the automotive area is the regulation of speed of a ventilation fan. In lamp circuits, these resistors are often used in series or in parallel to the lamp load. The two types of ballast resistor are fixed ...
How does an electric ballast work?
By doing so, they reduce the risk of either over voltage or over current in the circuit and thereby enhancing the stability of the system. Electric ballast varies greatly in complexity. It can be as simple as a resistor, capacitor, ...
What is an ignition ballast resistor?
Due to its application, such devices are called Ignition Ballast Resistor. Use of this device reduces the risk of coil failure. It is installed in the circuit between the primary voltage source for the ignition coil and the coil stud.
What is a self variable resistor?
Self-Variable Resistors: These type of ballast resistors have the property of changing the resistance according to the change in current like an increase in current would increase its resistance and a decrease in current will decrease its resistance. These ballast resistors are often used in incandescent lamps.
What is a ballast resistor?
A Ballast Resistor is an electrical device that reduces voltage to the coil so that more energy is available for the spark plugs during starting.
Why do spark plugs need less energy?
Because the starter motor draws a huge amount of current from the battery, the spark plugs are left with less energy to create the spark. This is worsened in colder starting temperatures or when the starter motor is worn, when even more energy is drawn by the starter motor leaving even less available for the spark plugs.
Do you need to change ballast coil?
If you have a ballast coil installed with a ballast resistive wire or a ceramic block then you can keep the coil as it is, there is no need to change it BUT if you change the coil you do need to match it to a ballast if one is present and not bypassed.
Why remove ballast resistor?
In either type of ignition system, points or electronic, the ballast resistor can be removed to increase secondary voltage to the spark plugs, but the long-term effects of removing the resistor differ between the two systems.
Where is the ballast resistor on a Mopar?
Some brands utilized a resistor in the coil or a resistor wire hidden in the wiring from the ignition switch, but Mopar put their resistor (or ballast resistor) on the firewall or inner fender, causing some to misidentify it as a part of the charging system. In simple terms, the ballast resistor in a Mopar limits the amperage, or current flow, ...
What happens if you leave the ignition in the run position?
Additionally, if the ignition is left in the run position and the points happen to be open-or worse, barely open-electrical arcs can cause raised spots on the points resulting in a change in dwell timing or an engine that won't run at all.
Do distributors need ballast resistors?
So does your application require a ballast resistor? Quite simply, if your distributor has breaker points the answer is yes ; if not, the answer is no. See all 7 photos. 2 Older points-style ignition system used a single resistor which reduced amperage to the coil resulting in extended life for the coil and points.
