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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: Mr. T]
#1653599
07/31/14 08:47 PM
07/31/14 08:47 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
mikemee1331
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
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Quote:
And, should it continue to be used with the orange box or a MSD ignition? 
beaten to death but i'll bite. what coil? assuming a performance one then -
1)orange box - recommended
2)MSD - no
the purpose of the resistor is restrict voltage(thereby current) to the ignition system. it reduces the operating temp of both the coil and the ecu. it also increases point life for those that have a points system.
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: SportF]
#1653601
07/31/14 09:16 PM
07/31/14 09:16 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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You have alot of leeway on how much (or how little) ballast (ohms) you can get by with and you can wire ballasts in parallel to lower the ohm value to get it where you want it as the device downstream from the ballast combo only sees the end result of the total current from both that gets thru. Use a pair of female terminal "dual" plug ins from a 4 terminal (dual) white bakelite ballast 70's setup and add another blue loop on the other end and (2) 2 terminal "single" ballasts of your choice will fit side by side in the 2 "dual" connectors. A blue loop on each end & 1 wire in and 1 wire out & mix & match ballast combo's till you get the right ohm combo on the meter you are after. As said 1.25 is the nominal ballast amount with the orange box which I believe is with the recommended coil and some coils like the blaster 2 you'd want less like .7 or so & no ballast with MSD as evidently the multiple (quicker) firings stresses (overheats) the coil less
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: Mr. T]
#1653603
07/31/14 09:50 PM
07/31/14 09:50 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
mikemee1331
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
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Quote:
The coil is a MSD Blaster 2.
then what I said stands. orange recommended, MSD no.
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: Publicbottle]
#1653605
08/01/14 10:34 AM
08/01/14 10:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,137
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,137
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
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If you draw out your ignition system, you will see that it makes one big circuit. The coil, wiring, points, etc, all have some electrical reisstance. The ballast resistor is in series with the other components. If you decrease the resistance of the BR, then more current will flow through the other components. Too high of value, and not enough current. So too much current would over heat coil and burn out points. Too little may result in not having adequate voltage at the coil (and weak spark).
68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project
69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed.
70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project
2023 Ford Mach 1
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: Mr. T]
#1653607
08/01/14 11:33 AM
08/01/14 11:33 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,137
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,137
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
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I hid my MSD 6Al under the dash. I used a burnt out stock ballast resistor, broke out the ceramic and coil in the back and soldered a wire across the two terminals. Looks stock, but works with the MSD box.
68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project
69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed.
70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project
2023 Ford Mach 1
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: Publicbottle]
#1653608
08/01/14 11:49 AM
08/01/14 11:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,211
Minn
SportF
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,211
Minn
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Quote:
Using the orignal posters setup.......
What are some of the benefits/downfalls from changing the ohm value. Say a .75ohm vs. a 1.5ohm.
Are we saving the coil from overheating, but sacrifice faster igntion light offs?
Ive always been a bit confused with the ballast resistor myself..just trying to understand it so it will finally stick in my memory
When using stock wiring, you get full 12VDC during starting. Then it goes back to running thru BR.
BTW, this has nothing to do with "overheating" the coil. If that was the case they'd have made different coils years ago that would handle the heat. It is all to save the points when opening. Here is a question for you, "what does the condenser do?"
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: KnuckleDuster]
#1653612
08/03/14 04:17 PM
08/03/14 04:17 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
mikemee1331
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
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Quote:
So what happens if you use a ballast resistor with an MSD 6AL? I have my car wired to use stock ignition as a backup if needed,by swapping coil wires and plugging in the box...I had a ballast resistor go out when the car was running stock ignition but tossed it..should I find another just to gut it,and keeep a good one on
hand in case of MSD failure?
Never had any misfires but had an old stock coil go out and replaced it with a Blaster II...
If the purpose is to prolong the life of points, why put them on 72-up cars with electronic ignition?
because a stock coil will eventually over heat. and yes you can use a resistor with your MSD ecu and won't notice a difference. you might notice a lower spark because the coil is operating at a lower voltage but on the street I'd bet you will never notice.
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: Mr. T]
#1653613
08/05/14 12:11 AM
08/05/14 12:11 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,688
Marlboro, NY, USA
Rick_Ehrenberg
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,688
Marlboro, NY, USA
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The one point that may have been overlooked:
The system is basically designed for full output (and long life)with roughly 9 VDC supply. This is about what you have during cranking, and the ignition switch basically shorts the ballast during said cranking. When it starts, you release the key, the charging system resumes operation, battery voltage comes up to 13-14 VDC, and the ballast is again in series, limiting the current flow (and voltage at coil pos.)
Rick
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: KnuckleDuster]
#1653615
08/08/14 06:20 PM
08/08/14 06:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,439
So Cal
Sinitro
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,439
So Cal
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On my 500 HP 70RR, I have the wiring setup so I can use an MSD 6 or a Chrome box. My distributor is the Mopar electronic with the Mallory guts, timing is 15 degrees initial and 10 in the distributor for a total of 35 degrees all in by 2200 RPM. My coil is the Blaster II. Regarding the ballast resistor, what many don't grasp is that it increases in value as it gets hotter. And actually limits the current to the coil as the early OE coils could easily be burned out.... For a ballast resistor I run the Mopar part# P2444641 which is 0.25 Ohms with the Chrome box. But with the MSD, I took an old ballast resistor gutted it and put an internal jumper with 10 guage wire, so no ballast resistor with the MSD. For street cruising I prefer the Chrome box over the MSD, the MSD maybe idles slightly better but the Chrome box works great.. EZ starting and no glitches.. Just my $0.03... 
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: Sinitro]
#1653616
08/08/14 08:10 PM
08/08/14 08:10 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
mikemee1331
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
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Quote:
On my 500 HP 70RR, I have the wiring setup so I can use an MSD 6 or a Chrome box. My distributor is the Mopar electronic with the Mallory guts, timing is 15 degrees initial and 10 in the distributor for a total of 35 degrees all in by 2200 RPM. My coil is the Blaster II.
Regarding the ballast resistor, what many don't grasp is that it increases in value as it gets hotter. And actually limits the current to the coil as the early OE coils could easily be burned out....
For a ballast resistor I run the Mopar part# P2444641 which is 0.25 Ohms with the Chrome box. But with the MSD, I took an old ballast resistor gutted it and put an internal jumper with 10 guage wire, so no ballast resistor with the MSD.
For street cruising I prefer the Chrome box over the MSD, the MSD maybe idles slightly better but the Chrome box works great.. EZ starting and no glitches..
Just my $0.03...
i'll give ya a nickel! this pretty much sums it up!
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Re: What is the purpose of the ballast resistor on my Dart?
[Re: KnuckleDuster]
#1653617
08/08/14 11:08 PM
08/08/14 11:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
383man
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
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Quote:
Is there a BR with lower resistance I could use with MSD, since I would have to find another, even to gut it? I have heard mention of "race" BR's...
If you use MSD and their coil you dont need to use a ballast as both coil wires go right to the MSD unit and is designed to work with no ballast resister. Ron
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