coil wires

Post by **Kev-p** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:16 pm

Hi Guys & Gals,
can anyone let me know firstly how hot the coil should get in normal operation as mine is getting very hot secondly will it run if I have it wired up the wrong way ? thirdly which wires go to + and - I have one white(looks yellow now with age) and one black and white.
Thanks in advance for a speedy reply, ok now you can go and have a look for me !! LOL

Post by **Welung666** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:35 pm

White = +
White with Black tracer = -

Post by **Kev-p** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:37 pm

Wow Lee,
thats what I call a rapid response.
To the garage I go !!!
Thanx
Kev...

Post by **Kev-p** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:39 pm

Ah Lee just one thing I forgot to mention I'm still + earth. Is yours ?

Post by **Packedup** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:43 pm

Or of course white to SW and white/ black to CB if the coil has that style of labelling

Post by **Welung666** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:48 pm

Both my cars here have - earth and are as above. As I understand it whichever is your earth at the battery (in your case the + is earth) then the white/black tracer should also be + on the coil.

Post by **Kev-p** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:50 pm

Cheers guys you are stars.....

Post by **Welung666** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:52 pm

I'm lucky Packedup

Both my coils have both sets of markings

Post by **Kev-p** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:56 pm

Hey Lee, that makes me lucky too.
All up and running!!

Post by **Packedup** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:25 pm

Welung666 wrote:I'm lucky Packedup Both my coils have both sets of markings

Well I think you know my strain of luck...

First time I came across a coil with just SW and CB on I was stumped! I always say points, enver think "contact breaker", and SW meaning ignition switch never occurred to me.

I seem to recall digging out another coil with markings I understood!

Post by **Welung666** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:53 pm

Yea I kicked myself when I first realised that CB was Contact Breakers and SW was Ignition Switch

Still we live 'n' learn

Post by **Willie** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:36 pm

A coil will still work even if the polarity it incorrect but the HT voltage will be
reduced

Post by **bigginger** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:30 pm

Welung666 wrote:Yea I kicked myself when I first realised that CB was Contact Breakers and SW was Ignition Switch Still we live 'n' learn

Yup - I just did

Thank you

Post by **RogerRust** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:24 am

OK I have read all the above, but when I swapped to -ve earth I followed the tech tips procedure and reversed the conections at the coil. So the terminal marked SW goes to the Spinning Widget and the CB to the Central Bi-position switch!

I'm only kidding mine was labled + and - so I just changed them round.

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:13 am

Spinning Widget and the CB to the Central Bi-position switch!

Unusual terminology Roger I wonder what Juliet will make of it

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:06 am

I have to confess, I'm confused!!!

From the BMC workshop manual the lead that goes to the distributor (black and white) shows the other end from the distributor as going to earth, so in a +ve earth car should the black and white lead go to the +ve connector on the coil?

Not sure as the car, as mentioned above seems to run fine with the wires either way round.

On a -ve car should the black and white lead go to the - terminal of the coil?