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Electronic Ignition Conversion

Posted By: SPWC

Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/19/10 10:56 PM

Im looking to Wire in a stock electronic Ignition in my 72 Dodge Van.

I have the ECU,Dizzy,and harness.

It is my undertanding that the Black/Yellow wire on the harness goes to the - side of the coil.

Then theres a wire I have to supply that goes from the + side of the coil to the Ballast Resistor.

Then theres one wire that comes from the electronic ignition harness,that goes to the other side of the Ballast Resistor.

The other 2 wires in the Electronic ignition harness are for the Distributor and have a connector on them.

So now that I have the wiring sorted out I need to know what wire goes to what side of the ballast resistor?

My ballast resistor currently has 2 red wires going to one side of it and a 2 wires going to the other side,one is yellow and one is red.

Does the wire I provided to the + side of the coil go to the side where the red and yellow wires are on the ballast,or on the other side where theres 2 red wires going to the ballast resistor?
Posted By: GTX MATT

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/19/10 11:16 PM

You have to break out a test light or volt meter. Whichever side has 12 volts with the key in the on position is the side you want to tap into.
Posted By: SPWC

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/19/10 11:23 PM

I have turned the key to the "ON" position and Its hot on both sides of the ballast,according to my test light.
Posted By: HealthServices

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/19/10 11:26 PM

This is some of the stuff I have on the computer

Attached picture 5992141-ballastwiringcopy1.jpg
Posted By: HealthServices

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/19/10 11:31 PM

Single ballast

Attached picture 5992148-singleballastwiring.jpg
Posted By: HealthServices

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/19/10 11:33 PM

Quote:

I have turned the key to the "ON" position and Its hot on both sides of the ballast,according to my test light.






If you are using a test light unplug and test the wire.
Posted By: denfireguy

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/20/10 12:20 AM

Quote:

I have turned the key to the "ON" position and Its hot on both sides of the ballast,according to my test light.



It will be hot on both sides, but the voltage will not be the same. A meter will indicate that there is a difference of around 6 volts between the two points. The light should be dimmer on one side than on the other side. Unless you have calibrated eyeballs, the light cannot tell you the voltage.
Craig
Posted By: SPWC

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/20/10 12:27 AM

Yea...I just realized my mistake on testing the hot side of the ballast with it plugged in on both sides...DOH!!!


So as I read the diagram for the single ballast I decipher it as the following:


The wire that I supply to go to the + positive side of the coil,gets connected on the side of the ballast that DOESNT read HOT when the ballast is unplugged and the key is in the ON position.

The #1 position in the electrical harness(ECU) goes to the side of the ballast that reads HOT when the ballast is unplugged and the key is in the ON position...

Is this correct,or is my deciphering clear as Mud?
Posted By: HealthServices

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/20/10 01:18 AM

Quote:

Is this correct,or is my deciphering clear as Mud?




I would have to say 'mud'

With the single ballast pictured if you disconnect the blue wire with the ignition on there would be no voltage at either end of the ballast. If you put a test light at the blue wire thought (connected or not) it would give you voltage.

But you would put the wire (brown in the picture from the coil) on the opposite end of the resister from where the power wire is.
Posted By: HealthServices

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/20/10 01:19 AM

Sorry I'm in class again...
Posted By: SPWC

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/20/10 01:36 AM

Im using the "piggyback connectors" as recommended in the Tech Archives when doing this conversion.

I now have everything hooked up(with the exception on the Dizzy,which I havent installed yet).I have disconnected the piggyback connectors from the ballast with the wiring still connected to them.

I turn the key to the "on" position and have power on both sides of the wiring now when I touch the test light to them...Is this how its supposed to be?
Posted By: HealthServices

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/20/10 01:42 AM

Posted By: SPWC

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/20/10 01:46 AM

So just a quick "what if"

What if I was to not ask the question here and install the wires and end up putting them on backwards?

Whats the worst that could happen?


Oh and thanks for walking me through this. Ive done 2 of these before,but its been a little while since,so I just wanted to make sure all was correct.
Posted By: HealthServices

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/20/10 01:47 AM

Burn up the coil if you run it too long.
Posted By: SPWC

Re: Electronic Ignition Conversion - 05/20/10 01:49 AM

Oh ok...thats not toooo bad.

Vehicle isnt roadworthy yet anyway. Again Thanks a bunch!!
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