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6 volt / 12 volt coil question

4K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  trees 
#1 · (Edited)
Can anyone explain in layman terms what the hell is the deal with 6 volt coils in most cars that are somehow converted with a ballast resistor or something to 12 volts.. A mechanic told me that almost all OEM coils are 6 volts....why not just use a 12 volt coil and be done with it? Maybe I'm confused, please unconfuse me. Thanks.
 
#2 ·
If you are running a distributer with points and you put 12 volts through them, they will burn out too quickly. A balast resister or resister wire is used to drop it tp 7 volts. Points are basicly just a switch to energize the coil. The coil puts out much more than 12 volts when all is said and done. All the coils I have used say 12 volts on them.

If you are using an HEI ignition, you run 12 volts to it.
 
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