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Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition #1629992
06/07/14 11:28 AM
06/07/14 11:28 AM
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Akron, Ohio U.S.A.
roadhazard Offline OP
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What is the recommended ohm ballast resistor for the Chrome Box when using an Accell super stock coil?

I need a spare for a trip and would measure mine but my meter isn't cooperating and don't trust the reading.

Thanks for the assistance

Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: roadhazard] #1629993
06/07/14 12:05 PM
06/07/14 12:05 PM
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RapidRobert Offline
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The nominal MP ballast ohms for the orange/chrome boxes is 1.25 ohms but that is with a chrysler coil. Accell told me to use .8 ohms with the super coil, the big yellow beast not the super stock round canister yellow coil you have and I ran it (the SC) 30 yrs ago with NO ballast & it never burned out. I think you could grab any ballasts you have laying around & they'd work fine. You have ALOT of leeway on how little ballast you can get by with and not burn out the coil and likely all of your spare ballasts will have plenty of resistance.


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Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: RapidRobert] #1629994
06/07/14 12:07 PM
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Supercuda Offline
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as Robert alluded too, ballast values depend on the coil not the ECU.


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They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
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Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: Supercuda] #1629995
06/07/14 07:48 PM
06/07/14 07:48 PM
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bethlehem pa
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mikemee1331 Offline
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agree with both. chrome box does not require a ballast but the coil might. 1.5 to .8 will work.

Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: mikemee1331] #1629996
06/08/14 01:11 AM
06/08/14 01:11 AM
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Balt. Md
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383man Offline
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I been using a .8 ohm ballast with the Acell super coil and the orange MP box since 1997 and still going strong. Ron

Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: 383man] #1629997
06/08/14 06:00 AM
06/08/14 06:00 AM
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Den300 Offline
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MSD blaster II coil, chrome box, 0.25 ohm resistor. 8 years, never had a problem


Hamburg/Germany

69 Chrysler 300
446cui Dual Quad
12.64 @ 110.7

Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: Den300] #1629998
06/08/14 10:15 AM
06/08/14 10:15 AM
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1970A66 Offline
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Quote:

http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/elec/4.html



Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: 1970A66] #1629999
06/08/14 11:03 PM
06/08/14 11:03 PM
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Dayton, Ohio
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65cuda Offline
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I called MSD this week and ask them the same thing. got a new MSD coil cause my chrome Acell coil and chrome box got so hot I couldn't touch it. He said the MSD ss red plastic coil didn't need a resistor. even though the instructions said .8 ohm. so I left the .25 ohm one there.it got so hot I couldn't touch it either and quit. I think it burned out. so who knows what resistance is right.


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Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: 65cuda] #1630000
06/09/14 12:37 AM
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You realize the function of a ballast resistor is to limit the current flow through the coil so it does not burn out. The lower the ballast resistance the more current flows thru the coil.


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They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
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Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: roadhazard] #1630001
06/09/14 01:14 AM
06/09/14 01:14 AM
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The .085 ohm piece that MSD sells works well with the Chrome box. But there is almost no noticeable difference in performance with a 1.4 ohm. In fact, the extra peace of mind far outweighs the slight gain I could measure. The MP boxes seem to live longer with either a high resistance coil or a coil/ resistor combination of 1.4 ohms or more.
Keith

Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: Supercuda] #1630002
06/09/14 08:56 AM
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mikemee1331 Offline
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Quote:

You realize the function of a ballast resistor is to limit the current flow through the coil so it does not burn out. The lower the ballast resistance the more current flows thru the coil.




Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: mikemee1331] #1630003
06/09/14 12:40 PM
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RapidRobert Offline
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If you have ~1.5 ohms total (coil+ballast) on an std ECU setup (not msd/not CD) then you'll be fine


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Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: RapidRobert] #1630004
06/09/14 02:58 PM
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Quote:

MP boxes seem to live longer with either a high resistance coil or a coil/ resistor combination of 1.4 ohms or more.




Quote:

If you have ~1.5 ohms total (coil+ballast) on an std ECU setup (not msd/not CD) then you'll be fine




Both good answers. People that say the resistor protects the coil are half right. It also protects the transistor on the ecu from overload. Obviously from this and many previous threads some people have successfully used much lower resistance without failure but not everyone will be that lucky. Years ago I played around with high tech heatsinks on the transistor(my cousin was making heatsinks for NASA). It was probably effective but not really worth the insignificant gain from running a lower ohm resistor than originally intended.


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Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: GomangoCuda] #1630005
06/09/14 04:38 PM
06/09/14 04:38 PM
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Akron, Ohio U.S.A.
roadhazard Offline OP
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OK, well I finally have an OHM reading on my ballast resistor I can trust.

I've been running a 1.25 OHM and it has been working perfectly fine. I however tried another ballast that measures .6 OHM and it runs like garbage

So I'll go pick up a couple 1.25's and roll with it!

Thanks for all the responses

Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: roadhazard] #1630006
06/09/14 05:40 PM
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RapidRobert Offline
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Quote:

I however tried another ballast that measures .6 OHM and it runs like garbage


Yes that is real strange. that ain't makin sense that less ohms/more current to the coil is makin it run worse. Got another one you can try (in that range)?


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: RapidRobert] #1630007
06/09/14 08:22 PM
06/09/14 08:22 PM
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Supercuda Offline
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More current means more heat. Had a Accel coil quit working when hot on me only to work fine when cooled off. Might be getting into thermal failure territory with the coil.


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Re: Ballast resistor for Chrome Box ignition [Re: Supercuda] #1630008
06/16/14 03:28 PM
06/16/14 03:28 PM
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65cuda Offline
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That's what I had a chrome round Accell coil with chrome box. Running the .25 resistor that came with the MP kit. coil got so hot it would burn you. quit on me. cooled down would start again. So I put on the MSD 8207 coil. it got so hot just running it to test in driveway it swelled up and split. put on second 8207 with the MSD .80 resistor. running in driveway again it got up to 220 degrees. ( reading with heat gun) afraid to drive it any where now. it might bust too. thinking about putting in a whole MSD system. only have 7.5 volts with fans on at coil. Talked to MSD they said the voltage is on target.


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