Kevin.payne.15 Posted December 26, 2017 Report Share Posted December 26, 2017 Hi all. After much discussion and seeing the earlier threads I’m going to replace the loom whilst the dash is out. I’ve looked on the auto sparks site but they have two for a gt 6 and mine is the swapover year. How do I tell if I need a ballast resistor or resistance wire loom. I have converted the ignition to a 123 distributer if that makes any difference. Thanks kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 26, 2017 Report Share Posted December 26, 2017 You only need the balast loom if you keep to a 1.5 ohm coil and also have the short yellow and white link from the stater solenoid With the 123 I would get a 3 ohm coil and dump any ref to balast ignition feeds (The ballast is either a ceramic resistor near the coil or a murky pink white from ign switch to the coil +ve) Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 26, 2017 Report Share Posted December 26, 2017 You only need the balast loom if you keep to a 1.5 ohm coil and also have the short yellow and white link from the stater solenoid With the 123 I would get a 3 ohm coil and dump any ref to balast ignition feeds (The ballast is either a ceramic resistor near the coil or a murky pink white from ign switch to the coil +ve) Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin.payne.15 Posted December 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2017 Thanks Pete. I think someone prior to me has already done this. Whilst I have two wires going to the positive feed of the coil, the second one goes directly to the distributer ( I suspect to power it) and I don’t have a pinky one ill ask autosparks if they can delete this cable. What did the ballast wire/resistor do anyway? kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 It boosted extra power to the circuit for starting, then reverted to normal current afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 Its a cold starting aid, you have a dropper to reduce the coil voltage to 6to8 volts For normal ignition on running this needs a coil resistance of 1.5 ohms.when you cranck it up the solenoid feed the 6v coil with 12v and boosts the HT helps if cold battery is in a poor state If you remove this and feed a 6v coil with 12v you cook elecfronics, or burn points as the ampereage isndoubled A 12v all, the time coil needs to be 3 ohms across the ign terminals The lead coil to the dizzy earths the coil via the electronic switching and this triggers the coil to discharge the HT Same as if you had points. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 Kevin, the ballasted ignition system runs at 6 volts. But briefly at start up, the ballast resistor is bypassed and 12 volts is applied to the coil and you get a fatter spark which aids cold starting. There are different coils for 12 volt and 6 volt systems, neither will work well in the wrong system. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 Ha Three echos happy new year Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 Damn! I feel like a ballast resistor. Bypassed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 Remove/bypass the ballast resistor and fit a 12 volt sports coil. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 Az your coil is made to supplement the 123 and only has two wires on the hopefully +ve terminal and ( one is presummed ignition and a feed to the 123,) the single should be on the -ve and is the earth via the distibutor internals From that I hazard a guess its all 12v and any balast has been bypassed Just a thought Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin.payne.15 Posted December 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 So in summary I think what your saying is to check with the 123 guys just to make sure it’s a 12 v sports coil I have and then, assuming it is, order the loom without the ballast wire or if not possible then go for the resistance wire option but then disable it on installation is this correct? And yes happy new year to all. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AidanT Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Yes or if you have a multimeter simply check the resistance between the positive and negative connections (Not the large king cable one) If it's 3ohm then you don't need the resistive wire loom if 1.5ohm then you do Aidan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin.payne.15 Posted December 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 On 27/12/2017 at 4:22 PM, dave.vitesse said: Remove/bypass the ballast resistor and fit a 12 volt sports coil. Dave Thanks all. I measured the coil and it’s 1.5 ohm. I contacted the 123 ignition people last night and they confirmed that 1.5 is absolutely fine so I’ll try and get a loom without the extra wire and or just remove it. Thanks kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Kevin, 1.5 ohm is a 6 volt coil. If you remove the ballast wire you require a 12 volt coil which has a resistance of around 3 ohms. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin.payne.15 Posted December 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 I’m confused Dave. Below is my email chain with the guys at 123 - their response at the top . Suggestions ? Hi Kevin You do not need a résistance A 123 can be used with a low résistance coil above 1 ohm A 1.5 ohm coil give a stronger spark A 3.0 ohm coil is for contact breakers Henry Hebels Verzonden vanaf mijn Samsung Galaxy-smartphone. -------- Oorspronkelijk bericht -------- Van: Kevin Payne <k.cpayne@blueyonder.co.uk> Datum: 30-12-17 17:41 (GMT+01:00) Aan: 123ignition-conversions <h.hebels@planet.nl> Onderwerp: Re: 123triumph Dear Henry As you will see from the email chain you have converted my GT6 Distributer last year and its been Ok Ive now decided to replace the wiring loom for and the guys that make the loom have asked me to confirm if i need a ballast wire or resistance wire solution. Upon investigation it would appear that i don’t have either ! Ive asked the Triumph forum and they suggest that if i have a 3 ohm sports coil then i don’t need a resistor or a wire but if i have a 1.5 ohm coil then i do. Does this make sense to you ?? Ive measured my coil and its 1.5 ohm i believe If this is the case would you recommend swapping to a 3 ohm coil and if so would you have one available please ? Regards Kevin Payne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 thats good , its ok to use what you have then, the only snag with lowering the Ohms is that if this increases the coil HT output this can affect dizzy caps and rotors ..thats on lucas and delco units as yuur cap is all integral part of the 123 then from what they say its able to cope ok leave it all alone so no balast in the circuirt and sleep easy Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 The higher current through the 6 volt coil can cause it to over heat. I would go for a Lucas 12 volt sports coil. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AidanT Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 To answer your original question you need the resistive wire loom. YOU say you have a 1.5ohm coil and this needs a circa 6v supply not 12v. If you constantly feed 12v then it will get very hot and fail prematurely The 6v supply is provided by having the resistive wire Aidan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Assuming you have the correct coil (such as one from 123 or a sports coil) I would say you needn't worry about a resistive wire loom. The only caveat I would add though, is that if you can switch the 123 back to points in the event of a electronic failure, then I would get the resistive loom, bridge out the resistor such a way that you can reinstate it quickly when if you need to swap back to points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Kevin, OK I agree with everybody! Your current coil will work, but as Pete and Dave point out higher current will be life shortening for 1.5 ohm coil and cap contacts. The ballast system was introduced to aid cold starting in an era when batteries weren't as good/efficient as they are now. Many classic owners consider the system unnecessary these days and bypass the resistance and replace the coil with a standard 3 ohm or sport 12 volt. I have the bypass system and it works OK and I'm not going to touch it. But in your situation, having the 123 and the choice of looms, I would go for un-bypassed and replace the coil with a 3 ohm. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 but its a 123 1.5 ohm compatible coil thats fitted and they say it will work the dizzy at 1.0 - 3 ohms you will only have the overload if going (as said) back to points . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin.payne.15 Posted December 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Guys. Thanks for the advice. I think the sensible compromise is to get the resistive wire loom version but just not fit it and leave as a just in case. There is little chance of going backwards from the 123 as this means a whole new distributer but it would be worthwhile protecting this option I suspect. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Pete, the current passing through a 1.5 ohm coil will be too high if the resistive wire is by past and may over heat and fail. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 39 minutes ago, Kevin.payne.15 said: Guys. Thanks for the advice. Kevin I hope you understood it, Kevin. I'm still scratching my head... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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