nang Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 Since my electrical theory is a bit suspect I thought I'd ask the experts.About to fit a Pertronix unit to my Cortina. Done this to my Triumphs with no problems but this one states use a 3.0 ohm coil. I thought this coil was for a 12 volt system but the Cortina, like the Triumphs, has a ballast resistor. It also states if a ballast resistor is fitted do not remove it. So do as I have done in the past, use the existing 1.5 ohm coil with the ballast resistor and feed the Pertronix unit with a 12 volt supply or change to a 3 ohm one ?ThanksTony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99176 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Bit of a thread drift, but is anyone using a Lucas 'constant energy' set up ?Opinions?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky_spit Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 nang wrote:Since my electrical theory is a bit suspect I thought I'd ask the experts.About to fit a Pertronix unit to my Cortina. Done this to my Triumphs with no problems but this one states use a 3.0 ohm coil. I thought this coil was for a 12 volt system but the Cortina, like the Triumphs, has a ballast resistor. It also states if a ballast resistor is fitted do not remove it. So do as I have done in the past, use the existing 1.5 ohm coil with the ballast resistor and feed the Pertronix unit with a 12 volt supply or change to a 3 ohm one ?ThanksTony.I reckon you could either safely. What Pertronix is saying, I think, is that they don't want 8 amps-ish going through the Pertronix, which is what you would have with a 1.5 ohm coil and no ballast resistor. With a ballast resistor in circuit, or with a 3 ohm coil, you'll have about 4 amps which is okay for their product to handle. When the starter is engaged, and therefore the ballast resistor short-circuited, the voltage drop in the 12v system is quite large and therefore the current in the coil circuit is proportionately lowered during that period to a safe value for that period of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzy Posted March 1, 2013 Share Posted March 1, 2013 i have some electronic ignition to put in the dizzy of my capri, which is about the same age your tina. what did you end up doing ? mine isnt pertronix but ive not even taken it out of the box yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nang Posted March 1, 2013 Author Share Posted March 1, 2013 I've yet to fit it, car's just back from paint repairs and it's pissing down today. I'll do what I did to the Triumphs and what sparky_spit suggests. Run my 1.5ohm coil with ballast resistor.Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drofgum Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Fizzy,To do that with a ballast you need a 12V feed to the Pertronix that is switched by the ignition switch. The ballast wire remains the feed to the coil SW terminal. The new wire only supplies the electronic unit. The new supply could be taken from the ignition switch end of the ballast wire/resistor. Cheers, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nang Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 That's how I wired up the one's on my Triumphs.Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtis1360Barry Posted July 7, 2013 Share Posted July 7, 2013 HiI'm no mechanic & I also have a problem with my Beauford kit car!It is a cortina 1.6 pinto engine with a chopped about wiring loom! With no ballast resistor in anywhere! I had a accuspark electronic ignition system fitted including coil, but I'm not sure if that should of had a ballast resistor in the kit? Has anyone got any ideas as I have problems restarting the engine after its hot??Any help much appreciated? In lay mans terms please!! Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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