SoCal Jet Boats

Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: CHROMEY on July 12, 2013, 10:31:09 AM

Title: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: CHROMEY on July 12, 2013, 10:31:09 AM

can someone tell me the drop across the white ceramic ballast resister to see if mine is good?

Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: GT Jets on July 12, 2013, 10:47:45 AM

Quote from: CHROMEY on July 12, 2013, 10:31:09 AM

can someone tell me the drop across the white ceramic ballast resister to see if mine is good?

You should see approximately 1/3 drop across a ballast resistor. They are typically a pass fail thing. Meaning they have voltage or don't.

Be mindfull that there is also such a thing as an internally resisted ignition coil. You do not use a resistor on those.

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Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: CHROMEY on July 13, 2013, 10:32:19 AM

Well per my meter i have the same voltage across the resister

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Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: GT Jets on July 13, 2013, 10:44:28 AM

Quote from: CHROMEY on July 13, 2013, 10:32:19 AM

Well per my meter i have the same voltage across the resister

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With the coil connected or disconnected?

The coil (a good one) needs to be connected in order for the resistor to have any sorry of voltage drop, otherwise you will see pretty much the same going out as you have going in (for the most part) the coil type also has a little to do with it.

What do you have going on?

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Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: CHROMEY on July 13, 2013, 10:48:01 AM

Killed another unilight module...trying to figure why

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Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: CHROMEY on July 13, 2013, 10:49:18 AM

So...my voltage is....12.10 @ begining of resistor and end of resistor and both side of coil.

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Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: CHROMEY on July 13, 2013, 10:52:24 AM

With key on of course

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Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: GT Jets on July 13, 2013, 11:25:59 AM

Quote from: CHROMEY on July 13, 2013, 10:49:18 AM

So...my voltage is....12.10 @ begining of resistor and end of resistor and both side of coil.

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If you have a jumper wire, ground the negative side of the coil (the distributor side) and recheck your voltage.

GT

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Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: GT Jets on July 13, 2013, 11:38:34 AM

About the only things that kill the module (a photo cell and an LED) is voltage problems, which I believe you had and bad grounds, which you may have experienced when you had the loose charging wire on the alternator.

For the most part, not really shocked that a Unilite failed. Maybe give a Pertronix a shot. They use hall effect technology and are much tougher.

GT

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Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: Your Mom on July 13, 2013, 02:29:35 PM

I am on the same unilite for 8+ years. One side of ballast +coil/starter solenoid (I) and the other side ignition/alt. I also have the power filter as a fail safe. I keep a back up unilite just is case. You can buy the cheaper unilite for half the cost. I have each batt grounded to back of block at seperate spots with 4g wire.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/maa-29351 (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/maa-29351) Power filter
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/maa-6100m (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/maa-6100m) Unilite

Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: CHROMEY on July 13, 2013, 06:30:24 PM

THANKS GUYS, definitely going to look into the power filter...and the cheaper unit.

just to see if it would fire, I switched out the dizzy with my dual point and she fired right up...going to look around further and see whats going in the harness back there....

Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: Your Mom on July 14, 2013, 06:39:41 AM

I used this to eliminate an issue before...good read. I have a alt from Napa and looped the exciter/ignition to the other side of ballast.
http://www.centuryperformance.com/forum/showthread.php/45-Testing-the-Mallory-Unilite-and-E-Spark-Ignition-Modules (http://www.centuryperformance.com/forum/showthread.php/45-Testing-the-Mallory-Unilite-and-E-Spark-Ignition-Modules)

Title: Re: ballast resister voltage drop?
Post by: btnhtillidie on July 14, 2013, 05:34:35 PM

Leaving the key on for extended period of times without the engine running will kill the module.