7 replies to this topic

[skirrow]

Wondering if anyone can help with this

I have a ballast coil and an electronic dizzy that worked fine with it - Lucas 65DM4

Do I HAVE to use the ballast coil with this dizzy? Or can I use a normal coil (and not use the ballast wire)

Cheers!

[petey81]

you have electronic 12v feed coil. i have no ballast coil lead with that dizzy. i have gcl143 from minispares.

[skirrow]

Thanks, I'm confused now though. I've been running a ballast wire to a 1.5 ohm coil to the Lucas 65DM4 and it's been working fine. Are you suggesting I've had it set up wrong, and that I should remove the ballast wire but keep the same coil?

[dklawson]

I am not sure what you are asking.

You say that you have an electronic ignition and that it is working with the ballast coil. Is there a problem you are trying to sort out?

Factory electronic ignitions really should use the specified electronic ignition coil. Though that coil is low resistance, it is not considered a ballast coil, it is an electronic ignition coil. There have been a couple of threads about that recently and it would be worth using the search feature here to read through some of those old threads.

[skirrow]

Thanks, I'm now running no ballast wire to a Ducellier coil (marked 12v) with the Lucas 65DM4 dizzy

I've read and search a lot of other threads which caused the confusion in the first place. What looked like the most informative said that if the coil measure 1-2 ohms then it was ballast. It seems that this is not the case. They all seem to contradict one another!

There was no problem as such. I was building up a new ignition system from old parts on a kit car and wanted to fit everything correctly, Any idea if I now have it right?

[dklawson]

Is your kit car the one shown in your avatar? It almost looks like a LoCost but with a roll cage. What is it?

As far as the coil is concerned, start by looking at what you have inside the distributor. If it is an OEM Lucas electronic ignition, you need the correct coil for that system.

If you have a car with points you could have a ballast or standard ignition system. The standard system will have a single white wire on coil (+) and the coil (without wires attached) will measure about 3 Ohms across the low-tension terminals.

The ballast ignition system will have 2 wires on coil (+), typically white/yellow and pink. That system uses a coil that measures 1-2 Ohms across its low-tension terminals.

You can use a 3 Ohm coil almost anywhere without damage and it may even work. However, if it is used on an OEM electronic ignition or a ballast ignition system the spark energy is going to be lower. The really bad thing to do is use the electronic ignition or ballast coil on a "standard" ignition system. That will allow too much current to flow through the system resulting in damage to the points, condenser, and coil.

[skirrow]

Yes, it's the one in the avatar. It's an ABS freestyle. Quite a bit different to a Locost as the engine is at the rear. Mainly made from mini parts but mid engine, rear wheel drive and quite a bit lighter.







Thanks for the advice on the ignition. It's a genuine Lucas OEM I think. Marked with the part number and with the module on the side.

The coil is a Ducellier and has 12v on it and 4 terminals but is 1.5ohm so I'm guessing that's the correct coil. Not 100% on that though. I'm going to do away with the ballast wire though as I'm pretty sure this isn't needed with this coil

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[dklawson]

Your combination of ignition parts is not something I am familiar with so I cannot comment on what will happen without the ballast wire, using that particular coil, and electronic ignition. Good luck though and enjoy the kit car. Thanks for posting the pictures.