Any help would help would be appreciated for this weekend Mechanic.      Thanks, Mike

The Pertronics instructions say to take power immediately in front of the ballast resistor (red wire) and to connect the black wire to the (-) post of the coil. This gives full votage to the control module - before the resistor. If it is a 12 volt module it needs to be getting 12 volts - if it is a 6 volt module it needs to be getting 6 volts.

The ballast resistance should drop the incoming line voltage - and the coil should also drop the voltage. I think that's what you found? Are you trying to operate the 6 volt module on the voltage you get after 12 volts goes through the ballast resistance?

                               Steve Metzger               Tucson, Arizona

I bought the 6 volt one to fit in my Distributer. More dumb questions, Is my coil supposed to be 6 or 12 volt as neither one is marked?  What is a ballast resistor? I have the ceramic one mounted right next to the coil for the 12v conversion.  With the ignition key on I get 12 volts acrossed it but once the engine starts it goes to around 7 volts.  How do I check my voltage regulator?        Thanks, Mike

You really need to have the right power supply for the Pertronix - otherwise, its not going to provide reliable service. It has a self regulated "power supply" voltage internal to the module. Under or over voltage is not well received.

The old 6v system probably used the same coil as you have in there now(?) and the originals are oil filled for cooling. Heating of this coil when used for 12v could shorten the service life unexpectedly if it is an old part. The ballast resistor cuts the volts back to something that it can live with (virtually forever). There are modern coils that don't need them  - but then they stress the points or firing modules with the extra power they pass. Better science is needed - and some of this science isn't in the Pertronic Ignitor.

Sorry for the incomplete answer - gotta go! maybe some one else can chime in....

                               Steve Metzger               Tucson, Arizona

Back from school – I have now been retrained as an “experienced miner”. Scary, I've been doing this for 33+ years...........

One thing that may occur with your current arrangement (assuming it still has the starting jumper from the solenoid) is the jumper is going to feed a jolt of voltage to the module during start-up – around the ballast resistance. Yes, the battery voltage sags on starting but I don't have a feel for how low....

I was thinking about this today – is there a way to feed the Pertronix from a separate six volt source as a test? Like an old battery? Maybe you could find out if it has a problem by giving it the right voltage while the power to the coil is running off the 12 volts through the ballast resistor. This should work for a test only – you are just arranging a temporary “power supply” for the module. At least you could prove to yourself the module is still in usable shape.

Are there any other potential sources of trouble – clearance setting of the module from the points cam ring, plug gaps, etc.?

And finally -I got a Pertronix module for my '56 distributor (not on the car but purchased to fit in the Load-o-Matic tach drive distributor). On the box it says "12127-1282   IGNITOR/ 54-56 FORD 8 CYLINDER" - it must be intended to work with the 12 volt system? What part number is on your box? This might be as simple as moving the red power wire to the incoming line 12v side of the ballast resistor. 

                               Steve Metzger               Tucson, Arizona

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

Anyhow, I now have 6 volts going to the petronics, and that is why I bought the 6 volt unit to answer the last reply. Was this the correct way to go?    

The engine started up again after changing the regulator but still ran the same, like it was 180 out? I took the Dist cap off & checked the magnet sleeve to make sure it was seated. Put it back on & the engine started & ran smoother for just about & minute, then went to the roughness, so I am thing it has something to do with the way that sleeve is installed.  

Anyone had this problem?           Thanks, Mike