Does My Boat Have a Ballast Resistor?

[isaacs]

I recently had some engine troubles and considered installing a new coil. The coil I bought said "For use with external resistor". I don't see a ballast resistor but I'm reading about resistor wire. How do I know if I have this?

As it turned out, there was nothing wrong with my original coil and with the installation of a new sensor in the distributor all is well, I'm just curious; if there's no resistor how do these things handle the voltage draw-down during starting?

This is a 5.0L with a Thunderbolt V ignition, SN 0M092219.

 

[alldodge]

Thunderbolt V ignition

TB5 ignition doesn't use a resistor wire or external resistor. You would use a internal resistor coil. There is no issue with voltage draw down, uses full 12V during starting and running

 

[Scott Danforth]

is usually never the coil.

 

[isaacs]

What is an internal resistance coil, how does it work?

 

[isaacs]

is usually never the coil.

Agreed. I'm really thankful to the guy at a marina that steered me towards the sensor--this thing runs like new.

 

[Scott Danforth]

What is an internal resistance coil, how does it work?

3 ohm primary winding vs 1.5 ohm primary winding