| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
36mainship36
RO# 19818
|
 Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 20:57:52
|
Can someone explain what they do and what causes them to break ? I have older Crusader engines and they have ballast resisters.
Lou R.
36 Mainship DC
|
Homeport: Avalon, N.J.
|
|
|
tugboat kevin
RO# 24998
|
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 21:21:35
|
it means it about time you updated your ignitions! those old ballast reduced the voltage at the coil from 12v to 7-8volts so the points would last longer they are a resistance wire that gets very hot and eventually burns out . are they gm based engines?
|
|
Homeport: oswego ny
|
 |
|
|
Sandy
RO# 1159
|
Posted - Jun 14 2012 : 22:20:36
|
Kevin is probably about to once again wisely suggest an upgrade to the Delco Voyager Electronic Distributor kit of which he has installed so very many . The kit includes the great Delco EST distributor with (electonic,no mechanical advance, no more ballast resistor- unlike most "electronic" distributors,) plus matching ign. coil and suitable set of s.plug and coil cables. "86" the the points, condensor, mechanical adfvance and ballast resistor. I heartily agree from long experience with that upgrade on my old Crusaders.
When the ign. sw. is turned to Start , the resistor circuit is bypassed and the starter and ignition receive full 12++VDC starting power. Then, after starting and the switch is returned to ON, the Run circuit as Kevin pointed out, includes the ballst resistor to reduce normal runninng voltage to the distributor to ~~ 7-9 v (from ~~13-14++VDC alternator output) to substantially prolong the life of igntion primary circuit parts of coil (?), points and perhaps condenser. Verrrrry few people are still using points ignition these days when it is relatively easy to have much more reliable & generally faster starting electronic ditributors or at least conversion modules swapped in.
Ballast resistors are vaguely similar to lightbulb filaments . A lot of obvious resistance producing heat and gradual deterioration perhaps accelerated a bit by moisture and other nautical elements. If the ballast element or connection resistance inceases over time so does heat and current draw through the circuit.
|
| Sandy |
Edited by - Sandy on Jun 14 2012 22:27:27 |
|
Homeport: The Vineyard
|
|
|
|
pdecat
RO# 842
|
Posted - Jun 15 2012 : 06:57:13
|
They dampen oscillations across the points as current bounces between the coil and coindenser. They do reduce the measufred voltage but without them the points burn up fast because of current flowing longer than necessary.
|
Bruce
|
|
Homeport: Gulf Coast FL
|
|
|
|
pdecat
RO# 842
|
Posted - Jun 15 2012 : 07:02:37
|
IIRC only Mopar used seperate ballast resistors. They do burn out like a light bulb.
|
Bruce
|
|
Homeport: Gulf Coast FL
|
|
|
|
imspacemancraig
RO# 31301
|
Posted - Jun 15 2012 : 09:19:46
|
I have had the same ballast resistors on my engines since 1986. I can tell because they have a little blue paint on them yet that Crusader paints there engines with. So not sure how often they burn out. In fact the same coils up until last year too.
|
|
Homeport: Winneconne, WI
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BoaterEd |
© 2010 BoaterEd, Inc. |
|
|
|
-
Ballast Resistor
