Ballast Resistors

[justchange]

I have a 1976 OMC 140hp, 2.3 liter 4 cyl.

Since it needs a ballast resistor, is it possible to change the coil so I do not need the ballast resistor?

IS it possible to convert the system to electronic and then eliminate the ballast resistor?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Ballast Resistors

it would be a 2.5L and yes, there are electronic options that would eliminate the need for ballast resistor.
There are Pertronix and other kits that fit into you existing distributor, and if you use their coil, it can all run from full 12V,
or you could use a later Mercruiser distributor (EST I think it was called) from a Merc 3.0 with their coil, again runs on full 12V

Being a 1976 OMC, piece of cake as you have no ESA to worry about like later OMG's

OR,
you can just go to the auto parts store and ask for a generic coil that runs on 12V and keep your points

 

[justchange]

Re: Ballast Resistors

it would be a 2.5L and yes, there are electronic options that would eliminate the need for ballast resistor.
There are Pertronix and other kits that fit into you existing distributor, and if you use their coil, it can all run from full 12V,
or you could use a later Mercruiser distributor (EST I think it was called) from a Merc 3.0 with their coil, again runs on full 12V

Being a 1976 OMC, piece of cake as you have no ESA to worry about like later OMG's

OR,
you can just go to the auto parts store and ask for a generic coil that runs on 12V and keep your points

Thanks for that. I was wondering more about just replacing the coil more than anything. I was told that the ballast reduces the volts to the points from 12 to 8. Doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Eagle103]

Re: Ballast Resistors

Thanks for that. I was wondering more about just replacing the coil more than anything. I was told that the ballast reduces the volts to the points from 12 to 8. Doesn't make much sense to me.

The idea with a ballast resistor is to reduce wear on the points by reducing the voltage. I've eliminated it on some of my older cars and everything works fine as long as you use good quality points.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Ballast Resistors

I bought a coil from Napa for use without external ballast resistor, some jerk had a coil for use with external resistor on my boat, It overheated and stranded me for ten minutes one time.

Love that point ignition troubleshooting, took me 3 minutes to determine the coil had power and was not working inside. Glad the coil worked fine ten minutes later and the boat worked good the rest of the night, 4th of July 09......

 

[KRH1326]

Re: Ballast Resistors

If the OP were to install a "normal" 12 v coil, meant to run without resistor, would it simply be a matter of physically removing that resistor?

What is done with the wires that connect to opposite ends of it? ( I am only refering to the type that I know and have, the OP's may be a different set up.)

Do they just get disconnected and isolated, or do they get connected together, by-passing the resistor?

 

[justchange]

Re: Ballast Resistors

If the OP were to install a "normal" 12 v coil, meant to run without resistor, would it simply be a matter of physically removing that resistor?

What is done with the wires that connect to opposite ends of it? ( I am only refering to the type that I know and have, the OP's may be a different set up.)

Do they just get disconnected and isolated, or do they get connected together, by-passing the resistor?

In my case, I may trace them and eliminate them. That's IF that's possible. I know one hooks to the coil ground and asume the other would be battery voltage.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Ballast Resistors

You do realize that using a coil that does not require a ballast resisitor means that the resistor is now inside the coil right? There is no benefit at all to switching to an internal ballast resistor coil other than getting to remove the resistor. Actually, you lose the benefit of the voltage boost that you get while starting since at start, the starter solenoid bypasses the ballst resistor.

 

[justchange]

Re: Ballast Resistors

You do realize that using a coil that does not require a ballast resisitor means that the resistor is now inside the coil right? There is no benefit at all to switching to an internal ballast resistor coil other than getting to remove the resistor. Actually, you lose the benefit of the voltage boost that you get while starting since at start, the starter solenoid bypasses the ballst resistor.

Yes, I figured that. It's easier to find a replacement coil than a marine grade ballast resistor. With the batteries I have in this boat, I'm not concerned about losing a couple volts.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Ballast Resistors

OK...so you are saying that right now you don't have a ballast resistor.