Subject: Leading coil ballast resistor failure
From: Paul
Date: 4/15/2001, 5:00 PM

Leon Promet wrote:

Hey Guys,

Why are you guys using ballast resistors on your coils?  Are you still
using a Kettering points system??

In 1979,  Mazda came out with an electronic distributor and electronic
coils as OEM.  I haven't EVER used a ballast resistor on ANY of my own
motors since.  The original distributor and coils are still in the '79
model RX7 I bought back then.  It's done nearly 600,000 Km total in 22
years.  still works like a charm.  They only problem with these
distributors is cross firing on the rotor button and cap when they get old.
 From memory,  I have replaced 2 caps and rotor buttons and 3 sets of leads
on this car during it's life.

Seems to me like some folks are still in the horse and buggy days as far as
fitting rotaries to aircraft are concerned.  Since the early '90s,  direct
fire,  1 coil per plug has been 'de rigueur",   and the redundancy
immediately doubles. No dizzy caps or rotor buttons to fail,  and two less
coil leads to go open circuit.

Bosch make a lovely little electronic coil called a "T coil.  Very Light
and very powerful,  and can be bought in most auto store in the world.
  All you need is a proper engine management system to control them.
 Again,  this has been around in Mazda since the mid 80s.  Aftermarket
engine management systems that control ignition have been around since the
early '90s.

Best wishes and kindest regards,

Leon Promet
leon@promotorsport.com.au

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