ballast resistor

[darren13]

can anyone tell me the correct way to wire the ballast resistor to the coil, ie does the distributor wire go direct to ballast then to the positive on the coil then the one from the neg on the ballast to the neg on the coil, does the ignition wire go direct to the coil or to positive on the ballast first. daz

[lotus-types]

The main power wire(12v live) from the ign switch goes onto the ballast resistor,the other side of the ballast resistor then goes on to the coil, the other side of the coil goes to the distributor.(low tension)
There is then another wire fed from either the starter or the starter solenoid that goes directly on to the coil AFTER THE BALLAST RESISTOR. This wire is ONLY live (12v) while the starter is turning.
This system lets the coil run on about 8 volts but when the car is started (via the starter) the coil is fed 12 volts but only while the starter is in operation.
If you are using a ballast resistor the coil must be suitable for a ballast resistor and not a 12v type.
Here is the wireing as Lotus used it on the Elans although all Elans do not have a ballast resistor.
http://www.lotuselan.net/publish/lsb_cold_start_co...
Here is a diagram but it does not show the live starter/solenoid wire which would go on to the + coil terminial.
http://members.aol.com/pullingtractor/animate/ign2...

Edited by lotus-types on Friday 5th October 11:48

Edited by lotus-types on Friday 5th October 11:50