coil - again!

[KirstMin]

Hi guys, sorry to bring this up again but I just want to confirm something: My coil packed in about 4 weeks ago and I bought a new one and replaced it. However, my car was converted to negative earth a few years back to run a stereo (I *assume* that with a modern stereo fitted the car MUST have been converted to negative earth?) and having read the previous post I think i may have connected the coil incorrectly... I just assumed that I needed to connect the coil in the normal - regular - way (that's + to + and - to - right?)

If I am negatively earthed do I need to switch the connectors to the coil around?

cheers

[Cam]

If you are using a positive earth coil and you change to negative earth, then yes, you need to swap the connections over.

[KirstMin]

Hello. Well ive got a lucas sports one from minispares.

By the way, I noticed that my battery is the correct way around but the first thing in the instructions for changing polarity is to turn the battery around. Why might mine be the correct way around if it is negatively earthed - and it must be coz my CD player works?

[Alec]

Hello KM,
if you mean the battery negative terminal is both at the rear and to the right (looking from the front of the car) then the correct battery has been fitted. The original battery would have the positive terminal to the right rear.

Alec

[KirstMin]

ello, thanks for your replies. This is my setup - I think the right terminal is negative and left positive. The left lead goes to earth (as you can see) which would indicate i'm negatively earthed right?



But my battery is front facing which confused me coz the instructions for changing polarity on the technical tips tell you to turn the battery around. So whys that?

ta

KM

[andrewsxt]

That looks right to me. same as mine, - earth

Andy

[Alec]

Hello KM,

looking at your photograph, the right hand post has a uninsulated cable, and (I assume) connects to the battery box as standard. So that must be your negative terminal.
What I was refering to about the terminals at the rear, i.e. nearest to the bulkhead. Yours is not, the terminals are nearest to the clamp. The potential hazard is that the positive terminal could contact the clamp which would cause a massive short and at best would damage the battery.

Alec

[KirstMin]

looking at your photograph, the right hand post has a uninsulated cable, and (I assume) connects to the battery box as standard. So that must be your negative terminal.

Yes, that's right

the potential hazard is that the positive terminal could contact the clamp which would cause a massive short and at best would damage the battery.

oh right! so that's why its recommended that the battery is turned around?

So I just need to make sure that the coil connections are correct: connection to distributor (black\white) to negative or sw (if the coil has cb and SW)

thanks

[Willie]

KIRSTMIN Not sure if you have taken onboard the remarks re the battery
clamp? Originally the battery would have been reversed so the
terminals were nowhere near the battery clamp but, when you
turn the battery around to make it Negative earth the clamp
is dangerously close to contacting the terminals. It is strongly
advised that you cut some of the metal away in the vicinity of
the terminals to avoid a catastrophe. (the clamp in your pic
looks dangerously close to the terminals)

[aupickup]

halfords do a battery where the negative terminal would be at the back of the battery.

[KirstMin]

KIRSTMIN Not sure if you have taken onboard the remarks re the battery clamp?

Okydoky - point taken - it's been like that for two years but yes it does look close! I'll fix this at the weekend before something goes wrong

[bigginger]

You could try thoroughly insulating the clamp by the +ve terminal so that no connection can be made. I've used a piece of pond liner ('rubber' sheet) and insulating tape to do the job, but whatever you use, be sure it DOES do the job Possibly easier than cutting away the clamp, and cheaper than a new battery.

[robertwareham]

I've replaced the battery clamp with one made from thick plastic angle from B & Q.Works fine and no fear of shorting