.::evil inside::.

hey guys, I recently acquired a 2nd gen leading coilpack and I installed it in my rx2 which is running a 1st gen 12a with electronic distributor setup. I am running externally mounted bosch bim024 ignition modules mounted on the side of my engine bay. I was previously running this setup with two bosch ignitors and two bosch mec723 coils and was running fine as far as a standard setup goes. I installed the 2nd gen leading coil (without the alloy base housing the ignitor and ballast resistor) in place of my bosch coil and just connected the ign 12v to + on the coil and the trigger wire to - on the coil, just as my standard setup was. It ran fine for a couple of minutes, then it cooked my ignition module! it looks as though the coil drew too much current through the ignitor and burnt out a transistor.

here is a pic of the currect wiring setup with the 2nd gen coil but wiring is exactly the same for the bosch coil


and physical pic of the setup


and resulting ignitor


Now this is where I need your help and advice. If I install the standard ballast resistor in my current arrangement on the negative side of the coil like the standard arrangement will this stop my ignition module from being blown up by the coil? or should I be running a different ballast resistor/s, on the + or - side of the coil? My understanding is that I am trying to find a resistance to balance out load on the ignitor and performance here. If I install the balast resistor/s on the - side (trigger wire) will this reduce my spark quality moreso than if I installed it on the + side of my coil?

If running the 2nd gen coil is going to cause too many reliability issues with my modules or the coil itself I may have to scrap the idea, especially because the modules are so expensive to obtain here in Australia ($80 a pop). If you guys have a suitable ballast resistor setup that is the 'perfect' balance between ignition module load and performance then I am all ears, if not would it be more suitable for me to run 3 coils and 3 ignition modules? I realise I am guaranteed better spark and probably better reliability using this method, however the 2nd gen method is alot tidier and less fabrication. I'm anxious to hear what information you fellas have to share with me. All the ******* in australia are all too lazy to experiment with anything and they just install whatever everybody else has, theyre just a big flock of sheep. Cheers,

Ben

H4Inf

Wish I had learned more about ignition Ben, im sure someone will have a good suggestion here tho. I'm interested to find out the answer too.. -Paul.

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

If you're running the 2nd gen coil, it's a good idea to also use the stock ballast resistor.

.::evil inside::.

you're not wrong there jeff! and I learnt the hard way. Put simply, will running the stock ballast resistor definately stop my ignition module blowing up? or would a custom assortment of ballast resistors help reduce the chance of that happening etc...?

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Use just the stock one.

.::evil inside::.

Thanks alot Jeff, I shall let you know how I went when I obtain some new ignition modules

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Cool. I'll be installing 2GCDFIS with GM HEI modules and will certainly use the stock ballast resistor.

.::evil inside::.

okay, back with results! I installed my new modules and installed the stock ballast resistor onto the negative side of the coil. I started it up and it ran fine, but I was watching the leading ignitor with hawks eyes. After about 15-20 seconds the leading ignitor started becoming somewhat hot and so did the ballast resistor (but I expected that) so I shut it off. I'm really not sure how much heat the ignitor will take before it goes pop but because of their value I'm not willing to push the limits. The plate I have my modules mounted on (around where the leading one is mounted) was getting to the point where it was close to burning my finger sort of thing...

now, what am I to do? Should I be wiring in some extra ballast resistors to take the load off the ignition module? if so, resistors of what rating? how many? in parralel I guess... anyway any suggestions would be fantastic! Although I think when I've got some spare cash I'll just throw 3 coils and 3 modules in and be done with it! heh. Cheers guys,

Ben

H4Inf

Hey Ben, I found even on a stock 2nd gen the coil becomes quite hot.. good to hear it ran tho. In the stock setup, the balast resistor is mounted in a metal bracket and bolted onto the housing of the coilpack which helps with heat dissipation- I reckon it should be ok though as people have success with this in the past... things just get hot...

wait and see if anyone else has another take on this tho All the best!

ps. (o/t) went and saw my car today Brake upgrade is halfway there, maybe complete by now engine is also in progress woooo..

.::evil inside::.

anyone?

.::evil inside::.

hey guys, I'm having trouble finding 10w resistors locally. I noticed someone is running 4x 10w 10ohm resistors in parallel, what if I run 4x 5w 10ohm resistors in parallel? I know its a long shot... any ideas?

.::evil inside::.

help

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

Resistors don't work like that in parallel. It halves their resistance. Look up basic electronics on the internet. You'll like what you see.

.::evil inside::.

yeh ok, I realise it halves the resistance when wired in parallel which is why I didnt understand why it was done in the first place... anyway, stuff this stupid setup, I'll just run 3 HEC coils and get better spark