Hot-Spark Electronic Ignition

[TunaFish389]

1984 Mercruiser 3.0 140. Installed Hot-Spark ignition 3DEL4U1 with new 3.0 ohm Flamethrower 40611 coil. Coil says to hook up + without resistor. Getting ~14.4v at + on coil. Hot-Spark says to not run over 14v from + on coil. If over 14v to put a resistor between coil + and Hot-Spark ignition.

Does this sound right to keep the +14v to coil but reduce voltage to ignition. Or does the coil also need less than 14v? Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Getting ~14.4v at + on coil.

Ayuh,..... Figure out Why, 'n fix it to run at 'bout 13.6v,..... an alternator problem,.....

 

[TunaFish389]

Why is that an alternator problem? I run 15+ volts on my cars all the time

Looked into to this a little and the 13.6v statement is not always true. It should be that way with a fully charge battery. Mine were pretty much dead, hence the higher voltage.

To get back to the question, the batteries are not going to damaged by the ~14.4v which does lower once charged up. Are you saying the coil should only be ran around 13.6v and can't handle +14v? If so I will add resistor wire back to coil + and not worry about resistor between coil and ignition. I am sure that the ignition needs a resistor (why the batteries were dead, ignition overheated and stopped sparking).

 

[TunaFish389]

So to update this, I contacted Pertronix about the coil + voltage being at ~14.4v and they said all is fine. So now just need to get the electric ignition + wire below 14v. Thanks.

 

[achris]

Why is that an alternator problem? I run 15+ volts on my cars all the time....

I suspect your meter is not reading accurately. Car alternators put out 14.2 on a fully charged battery, when the alternator is cold. As the alternator heats up, the voltage does drop as much as 1/2 volt (it's a pain!)...

If your meter is reading higher than 15 volts on all your cars, your meter is the problem, not the cars. What brand and model is the meter, and when was it last checked it (for accuracy)?

Chris.........

 

[TunaFish389]

I use OBD to measure my car voltage. 2018 Hyundai Elantra and 2012 BMW 335I both run 15.2v to 14.6v with normal being 14.8v. Here's a log of the BMW which runs slightly lower voltage than the Hyundai...