How to Tell if a Coil Has an Internal Resistor

shibacafe
2 min readOct 22, 2021

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In this blog, Easybom will speak about the function that the ballast resistor has in the ignition coil of a car and how to determine whether the coil has a ballast resistance in the coil, and much more.

Inductor Capacitor Coil Mother

Introduction

It is normal for older cars to include ballast resistors within their ignition systems, especially when they were initially equipped with the LED generator. If the ballast resistor inside the vehicle is damaged it must be replaced with an external ballast coil that includes ballast resistance.

What exactly are Ballast Resistors?

Unless you’re an electrician or electrician, the ballast resistors aren’t something you’re aware of. When ballast resistors first came into use in the 1970s, they were not unusual to find on American light fixtures. They were often too hot and would stop functioning, however ballast resistors also proved to be more efficient than the fixtures they replaced.

Ballast resistors are typically made from alumina, ceramic, as well as carbon-laden plastic. Most ballasts that are found in Europe utilize a metallic wire to control current flow and voltage to the lamp filament using an electrostatic or electromagnetic field that holds them together. A ballast resistor creates the necessary heat to let out electric energy via wire coils made of wire that generate resistance and heat. The ballast resistor is also a ballast needed for the electromagnetic field that produces an alternating current at a high frequency.

Why are They Needed in an Ignition Coil

A coil for ignition is an element which completes the flow of electricity through an engine that is internal to combustion. It accomplishes this by converting low voltage, high-current electric energy to high-voltage electricity with a low voltage. This is done by ballasting the spark plug of the engine, so that it is able to operate more efficiently, thereby increasing the power output of the engine.

The ballast resistor performs two main functions First, it functions as a voltage reducer , cutting off the current supplied by the battery. Secondly it acts as a resistance to the ground , which ensures higher stability in voltage levels to protect sensitive electronics such as radios and computers. The ballast resistors are usually valued at between 10 and 25 ohms.

If the circuit is not ballasted, it will not be able to supply enough current to charge up. The ballast resistor assists to prevent overflowing of currents from entering the circuit, and then breaking it up again. Ballast resistors are also utilized to protect the ballast circuit in the AC (alternating current) power supply.

read full article here to learn how to tell if there is a ballast resistor in the inductor coil and more.

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