Pertronix should I throw it on a bonfire ??

I installed an ignitor II tonight in my mallory dual point in a SBF. The mallory would need new points and condenser every year and I was getting tired of it.

The instructions said you can hook it up with or without a ballast resistor but they recommend without. I have a resistor wire and I don't want to fool with the wiring in the car so i just hooked it up with it. Pertronix said the mallory coil should be fine.

 

You need to put a diode on your starter solenoid. All computer controlled cars today have diodes built into the starter solenoid to absorb the negative voltage spike of its coil collapsing. Without the diode the surge which can be as high as 300v momentarily can destroy electronics which typically can only handle low voltages. The starter solenoid is acting like a small version of your ignition coil except there is no place for the output to go. Go to radio shack and buy a 1n4005 diode and connect the end with the stripe on it to your solenoid at the ignition post then wire the other end to ground. Do it this way if your car is 12v and neg ground. Reverse the diode if you have 6v pos ground. This diode can take 600v peak voltage before it blows. You could also put one from your main voltage supply to ground again stripe to the positive side other side to ground.

You can also buy a later model solenoid and it will be marked that it has diode suppression.

Generators are electrically noisier than alternators which means there are going to be spikes which can harm electronics.

 

Might want to get a faster diode such as a Schottky barrier diode rated at 600V @ 1 amp.

 

So when Pertronix and you guys are talking about "leaving the ignition in the on position"...what length of time are we talking about here??? I'm planning on ordering up the Igniter(I) with their Flamethrower coil, tomorrow, but maybe I should get the Pertronix "II" just to avoid any mishaps... ???

 

I had the same issue with my shoebox... it was a wiring issue ... check your wiring over you might be crossed up ...

and for the ballast resistor .. you can run them either way with or without on all of them ... talk to the guys at pertronix, they are very helpfull. latest i bought a "new" dizzy for my lincoln motor .. it had too much lash in the shaft and the magnet slipped too far down , and the car never started. they told me to shim it up to level with the unit and it fired right off... happy days ..

good luck you can figure it out

 

My Ignitor I burned up after about 1-2 minutes after I shut the motor down, but left key on. It is an easy thing to do when you are trying to debug some other issue. But once you do it it is one of those things you never forget thereafter.

I recommend you get the Ignitor II. It safeguards against this issue and is more tolerant when using different coils.

And if you want to insure good results get the Ignitor II, one of their coils, and take the time to properly install it in the dizzy.

I installed the ignitor II and their coil and couldn't be happier.

 

With the Original Ignitor we recommend that the key not be left on for more than 30 seconds without the car running. If you think that you will have the need to leave the ignition on for more than that I would suggest that you get the Ignitor II.

 

hey don...had pertronix in the coupe and it ran like a raped ape...

 

Older thread, but Pertronix has what is called "Ignition Power Relay" Their part #2001. Helps remedy spikes talked about and then bypass ballast resistor, etc. Check out their site for more info: pertronix.com Anyone installed one? would a standard 5 prong 30A relay work? How is their relay wired?

 

WOW, that's a brand new product. How did you find out about it?
The prototype has been on my Falcon for about a year now. It is intended to help out in cars where low voltage on the ignition wire is not allowing a full 12 volts to get to the Ignitor. This is especially true for cars that had a resistor wire feeding the stock coil. The relay takes power directly from the battery and when triggered supplies the ignition with a full and constant 12 volts.
There are 4 wires on the relay; The small purple wire will connect to the original ignition "run" wire from the key. This may or may not be a resistor wire or have a ballast resistor in line, it won't matter. The Orange wire will go to the + side of the coil (which is where the Ignitor red wire goes as well). The Large Red wire will go to a 12 volt + source at the battery or starter solenoid. The black wire goes to ground.

 

went to their web site-Thanks for info. Help with your Falcon set up? Best to use their relay or OK to use any 30A relay?

 

Question: Has anyone used a Pertronics unit with a Judson coil. I'm thinking it should be a straight forward hook up, but thought I'd ask those in the know.

 

The stock resistor wire in my Falcon had gotten a bit brittle over the years and the resistance was such that I was only seeing about 7 volts at the coil. This put it back to 12v and it starts and runs better.
As for "any" relay, you could probably do that, but they do also include a diode with the kit as many cars will have a run on problem where the alternator will continue to feed the ignition after key is turned off.

Check the primary resistance of the Judson coil and that will tell you if it will be compatible with the PerTronix Ignitor.

 

I feel the same way. I was a tune-up man at a Chevy dealer for years--HEI was a pain at first,then GM figured out the problems. But I've always had points ignitions in ALL my cars--and have put in a few Pertronix for people.Some did OK ,some had problems,but my points have never let me down. By the way, I started using older Toyota ballest resistors,because they seemed to drop the voltage a little more than others,plus the have a metal mount,better to disapate the heat---my 37 coupe w/ SBC had the points in it for over 20 years!---changed em just because I thought I should--and the old ones still looked good.
Bottom line: do you REALLY need some of this stuff? Or are you just changing things because you can---------

 

I put an early dist. in my 85 Bronco last year with a II and thier coil no issues in 27,000+ miles, would use one again.

 

Thanks for the kind words. Always glad to try and help

 

Ditto Couldn't agree more