remote coil ground

R

rsincc

New member
the coil on my 1935 Ford is mounted on the splash apron. It is grounded (positive ground) to the next bolt on the splash apron. The instructions for the remote coil say to ground it to the nut that holds the condensor. Will it damage the distributor to run it this way?
 
Instructions for ignition conversions can be tricky. The inductor coil, by nature, is isolated from grounds by the way it is packaged. Its mounting bracket would be the only thing associated with a ground. The two terminals on most coils are labeled + (plus) and -(minus) or they may be labeled "distributor" and "ignition or switch". If the vehicle has a positive ground system and the coil has no identification for use with a positive ground system the the + would be connected to the distributor points/condenser connection or terminal (not a direct ground). Only one part of the point set is actually grounded and the condenser is connected to the non-grounded part. I'm not familiar with all of the conversion caps that go where the old coil used to fit on the diver helmet type distributor but there should be a terminal on there or a wire coming out of it to connect to the points/condenser terminal on the coil. The - (minus) terminal on the remote coil would then be connected to the ignition source (wire from key switch). Now if the coil is made for a positive ground then the coil should be marked that way on its body some where. In any case the polarity can be checked to varify proper connection after you establish a working system. It will work with opposite polarity but it won't have as much power as it should until reversed.

I hope this helps.
 
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Thanks rotor - i wouldn't think the car would run with the positive post on the coil grounded to the frame but it runs fine. Do you think it will damage anything to run it this way?
rsincc
 
Electrical current flow won't damage anything unless it has a direct short to ground. Since I don't know how you have the rest of it wired, it's hard to say if it will damage anything or not. Just remember the car's frame is a big part of its electrical circuitry and can be used to connect any grounded item to another and right back to the storage battery. The rest just depends on how the condenser is mounted and connected to the breaker points.

The early divers helmet distributor only had to have a wire from the key switch to the coil terminial. All other connections were self contained with the assembly.

Kerby
 
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