Ballast resistor wiring

Previously wrote:

Help.

How do you wire in the ballast resistor. My wiring diagram has a line with a squiggle. My ballast resistor has 2 connectors and another i presume to be earth. I have a white wire from the ignition switch which when attached to the coils gives me a spark but i can't get a spark through the resistor. I am crap at electrics and electrical terminology but i can do left, right , + , - , andcolours. Do i need a red on the earth connector? A simple diagram would much appreiciated.

Many Thanks Owen

Hi Owen , I run on Boyer micro digital ignition , so do not have balast resistors to contend with . However my memory and wiring diagram tells me there are only two wires involved , one being the switched live ( which varies in colour for different models . Vis white /blue or white purple or white /yellow ) And the other to the negative or number 1 terminal on the coil which is then linked to the same terminal on the other coil .There is no provision for an earth terminal on the Balast resistor . Are you confusing it with the Condenser pack which does have three terminals one of which is to earth ? The condenser pack is a rubber covered item with two terminals onthe front face and a third (earth ) on the side . I have had problems with these in the past , mainly the small spade terminals breaking loose from the actual condensers inside the rubber boot . Outwardly you dont notice they are broken , but they create intermittent faults by making/breaking contact . The result is an unpredictable ignition system . Hope this helps .

Previously wrote:

Hi Owen,

I have just converted my Interstate back to points. You need to put the white or blue/white ignition wire direct to the l/h side of the ballast resistor (thats the squiggle) and not straight to the coil. Then using another piece of wire (preferably the same colour), run that from the r/h ballast connector to the -ve r/h coil. The black/white points wire then connects to the +ve r/h coil. A small black/white linkwire also connects from the +ve r/h coil to the r/h condensor.

A black link wire connects between the -ve r/h coil to the -ve l/h coil. Nearly there. The black/yellow points wire then connects to the l/h +ve coil, thus a black/yellow linkwire goes from the l/h +ve coil to the l/h condensor.

Would have sent a scanned diagram, but can not at the moment figure how to put into the clubs set up.

Hope this all helps, Graham.

There must be good reason to put the Commando back on points but I cannot think of one? Boyer might not be the best ignition, RITA might be a bit long in the tooth(but still very usable) But then you have PAZON. The maintenance and potential poor running from points?? Why?

Al Osborn