Smoke from Ballast resistor

[cnefalcons]

Calling all electricians.....<br />1977 Carver 3396 with twin Pleasurecraft (ford) 351w engines. Changed the Ballast resistors ( coil resistors) on both engines. One of them has 4 wires in and 2 out while the other has 2 in 2 in. The 4 in resistor started to smoke almost immediately after turning the ignition on. The wiring is the same as the old ones were on the old resistors. The one in question has one of the wires going direct to the alternator. The alternator has been replaced with a one wire type.<br />Any ideas of what the problem could be or how I should trouble shoot it???<br />Many thanks.

 

[akriverrat]

Re: Smoke from Ballast resistor

check volts on input side of ballast resistor. maybe bats hooked in series to that one? alt lead more commonly hooked up to starter solonoid but not an issue till engine running.

 

[McKenzie]

Re: Smoke from Ballast resistor

were the ballast resistors the same ohms and watts as the originals?