Ballast resistor use?

[Captain Crunch]

Hi,

My A4 came with a Hot Spark EI kit already installed. I am currently trouble shooting loss of power and RPM and stalling problems under way. I have replaced the coil. The old coil had a internal resistance of 3.6 ohms. The new one has an internal resistance of 3.0 ohms. I bought a ballast resistor with it, 1.3 ohms. Do you think I need to use it? The Hot Spark EI says to use a coil with no less then 3.0 ohms. With the engine running I measure 14V at the coil + terminal.

Thanks.

CC.

[ronstory]

Just add it, 3 ohm + 1.3 ohm give you 4.3 ohms... vs. the 3.6 ohms before. the difference of 0.7 ohms (assuming the measurement are accurate) is noise in the equation.

It will be fine... and your coil and IE will be happier.

[ndutton]

Hi,

My A4 came with a Hot Spark EI kit already installed. I am currently trouble shooting loss of power and RPM and stalling problems under way.

I tried a Hot Spark ignition on my spare A-4. It did not last even one hour of running time.

[Captain Crunch]

Thanks Guys.

Ndutton, Is the Ignitor EI the product of choice?

CC.

[Hymodyne]

replaced ballast resistor, now intermittent spark

As stated in the title, I replaced the external 1.6 ohm resistor, plug wires and boots and with good plugs I still have weak and intermittent spark. Late model A4 with EI.

[Dave Neptune]

Hymodyne, check the coil. And check to see that the intermittence is not on the ignition feed. EI's don't usually fail in an intermittent basis, usually it is sudden.

Dave Neptune

[ndutton]

Thanks Guys.

Ndutton, Is the Ignitor EI the product of choice?

CC.

We have had reliable performance with the Pertronix Ignitor (Hall effect) with proper ignition system assessment and the Indigo/Crane Cams optical system. The Hot Spark sample size is way too small to reach any meaningful conclusion however. I can think of only two of us who have tried it and I was one of the two.

[Hymodyne]

new coil

Update: I replaced my coil with an old one I had in the boat, wiring the 12v through the ballast resistor into the coil. Runs well now.

Hym