your opinions on an article in mopar muscle magazine on ballast resistors.

[70 RAG TOP]

I just read an article that says that a ballast resistor is not needed with an electronic ign system.?  If it is not necessary, then why did my Mopar Performance ign kit come with one?  Also, the article said that chrysler elect. ign. systems used a "dual" ballast resistor.  Then why did my kit come with a smaller, single ballast resistor(looks like the resistor that a points ignition system would have).

Your thoughts/opinions?

Thanks
Mike

[Chryco Psycho]

coils run on 6-8 v & will fail run on 13 v for long , you need a single ballst on the power feed to the coil , the dual ballast dropped v to the ECU , they moved that resister inside the ECU so it no longer needs the dual resistor

[70 RAG TOP]

Thanks Chryco

[burdar]

the dual ballast dropped v to the ECU , they moved that resister inside the ECU so it no longer needs the dual resistor

That is if you have a 4 pin ECU.  If you have the original 5 pin style, you need the dual resistor.  The MP orange box is the 4 pin style.  I wouldn't run a new orange box though.  THey've had quality control issues lately and a lot of ECU's have been failing.  If you run the orange box, I'd keep a spare in the car incase something happens. 

[V02Barracuda]

I read that article too and I have NO intentions of removing my ballast resistor.  Perhaps people who race their cars could benefit from this technique.  My car gets driven daily so if it's not broken, I'm not fixing it. 

Mike

[dodj]

I just read an article that says that a ballast resistor is not needed with an electronic ign system.?

There are electronic systems without ballast resistors, and they definitely do not need them. But that doesn't mean you can remove a ballast resistor from a system that was designed with one.

[GranCuda1970]

I'm used to the look and don,t mind replacing them when they pop!!!

[Strawdawg]

I read the reply a bit differently, I think.  I thought it said some electronic ignitions did not need a ballast, but, others might.  The reply to the question sounded as correct as it could possibly be without examining each and every system on the market.

I would follow the instructions that come with the specific ignition and have some faith in the engineers that designed it.