12V vs 6V crab distributor

L

LQQKER

Member
Did a quick Thread search but no luck.


Acquired a good running crab distributor off a 6 volt car. What changes if any are required to this distributor to run on an engine converted to 12V ?

Condenser maybe? Using as a spare. Thanks
 
Condenser should be the same. No other changes needed as long as the system is already set up for 12v with proper coil and ballast resistor.



Terry
 
I used the “6V” coil. All coils run on about the same energy. Read the amps with the 6v system. Use a resister that gives half the amperage of the 6V system. That’s what I did.
This may be wrong but worked for me.
 
Condenser, points, resistors, contacts, and wires in general are not voltage sensitive.
 
tubman said:
Condenser, points, resistors, contacts, and wires in general are not voltage sensitive.
Click to expand...

Resistors may very well be different in a 12v system. That's why Bubba says to change it. Ohm's law dictates. The 12 volt coil determines the resistor needed if any.
 
No resistor under the dash. Echlin 12V coil with internal resistor.

I didn't think any mods were required for the 6V unit but I was hoping for reassuring advise from the experts on this forum. This is a spare for a running 12v car. Again....Thanks.
 
philipswanson said:
Resistors may very well be different in a 12v system. That's why Bubba says to change it. Ohm's law dictates. The 12 volt coil determines the resistor needed if any.
Click to expand...

Wrong again, Phillip. Different voltages may require different resistance, but 10 ohms is 10 ohms. If you look at traditional resistors, they have different colored stripes on them that indicate the stated resistance of the unit. I have never seen a resistor marked with the voltage. You are confusing the resistance required by different circumstances with the value of the resistor itself.
 
I wasn't wrong. A 12 volt system and coil most likely will require a different resistor or none at all. Of course a given resistor will have the same resistance whether in a 6v system or 12v. The requirement for a DIFFERENT resistor with a different coil will dictate the required ohms. Never said otherwise. Common sense which some lack.
 
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edhd58 said:
why does the resistor need changing, asking cause i went 12 v and didnt change anything but the coil on my G
Click to expand...

Depends on what you were starting with and what coil was used. You want something in the 3 ohms range between the coil and any resistance. So if you add an ~1.5 ohm coil it needs ~1.5 ohms of resistance added (a ballast resistor). If an ~3.0 ohm coil is used, a ballast resistor is not required. So, you need to know what the resistance is of the coil you are using and what ballast resistance was originally in the vehicle.
 
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