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coil wires

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:16 pm
by Kev-p
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 :D

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:35 pm
by Welung666
White = +
White with Black tracer = -

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:37 pm
by Kev-p
Wow Lee,
thats what I call a rapid response.
To the garage I go !!!
Thanx
Kev...

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:39 pm
by Kev-p
Ah Lee just one thing I forgot to mention I'm still + earth. Is yours ?

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:43 pm
by Packedup
Or of course white to SW and white/ black to CB if the coil has that style of labelling :)

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:48 pm
by Welung666
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.

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:50 pm
by Kev-p
Cheers guys you are stars.....

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:52 pm
by Welung666
I'm lucky Packedup :P Both my coils have both sets of markings :P

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:56 pm
by Kev-p
Hey Lee, that makes me lucky too.
All up and running!!

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:25 pm
by Packedup
Welung666 wrote:I'm lucky Packedup :P Both my coils have both sets of markings :P
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! :)

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:53 pm
by Welung666
Yea I kicked myself when I first realised that CB was Contact Breakers and SW was Ignition Switch :roll: Still we live 'n' learn

coil

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:36 pm
by Willie
A coil will still work even if the polarity it incorrect but the HT voltage will be
reduced

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:30 pm
by bigginger
Welung666 wrote:Yea I kicked myself when I first realised that CB was Contact Breakers and SW was Ignition Switch :roll: Still we live 'n' learn
Yup - I just did :D Thank you

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:24 am
by RogerRust
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. :lol:

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:13 am
by Kevin
Spinning Widget and the CB to the Central Bi-position switch!
Unusual terminology Roger I wonder what Juliet will make of it :wink:

Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:06 am
by chickenjohn
I have to confess, I'm confused!!! :o :oops:

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?