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jacksonp32 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2015 Posts: 377 Location: fort collins
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 9:55 pm Post subject: will my coil work with pertronix electric ignition? |
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I have a blue Beru 12v coil. it has 2 prongs for both + and -. can I just add a 3 prong to the positive side and run electronic ignition? will this burn out the electric module or will I be ok? better safe than sorry [/s] |
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Relyt Samba Member

Joined: January 09, 2012 Posts: 1006 Location: WA
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: will my coil work with pertronix electric ignition? |
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Any coil will work as long as it has a resistor which I believe yours does:
http://www.hot-spark.com/1-Beru-ZS-172.htm
you can double check with an ohm meter, you want at least 3 ohms of resistance. _________________ 69 Beetle - Daily driver
1600 SP (unknown history)
30 PICT 1 w/power circuit (Volkzbitz)
205T (Bill) |
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jacksonp32 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2015 Posts: 377 Location: fort collins
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Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 5:58 am Post subject: Re: will my coil work with pertronix electric ignition? |
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Relyt wrote: |
Any coil will work as long as it has a resistor which I believe yours does:
http://www.hot-spark.com/1-Beru-ZS-172.htm
you can double check with an ohm meter, you want at least 3 ohms of resistance. |
awesome thank you. I'll do that |
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slalombuggy Samba Member

Joined: July 17, 2010 Posts: 9314 Location: Canada
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Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:53 am Post subject: Re: will my coil work with pertronix electric ignition? |
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If you use Pertronix Ignitor2 or 3 you MUST use the correct low impedance coil or you will fry the module. They have next to NO resistance.
When in doubt READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
brad |
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andk5591 Samba Member

Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 16796 Location: State College, PA
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 4:03 am Post subject: Re: will my coil work with pertronix electric ignition? |
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slalombuggy wrote: |
If you use Pertronix Ignitor2 or 3 you MUST use the correct low impedance coil or you will fry the module. They have next to NO resistance.
When in doubt READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
brad |
Agree - just ran into this....Thought as long as it had a resistor it was OK. BUT Pertronix wants you to use their coils. And it could be part of some marketing to sell more Pertronix coils, but not taking a chance. _________________ D-Dubya Manx clone 1914. Ex wifes car.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Ex-wifes car.
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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johneliot Samba Member

Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 2191 Location: Chico, CA
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 9:27 am Post subject: Re: will my coil work with pertronix electric ignition? |
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The Pertronix coils aren't anymore money than the Bosch ones. _________________ John
There is no distinctly American criminal class - except Congress.
Mark Twain
69 bug - "The Grey Ghost" |
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ashman40 Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 16485 Location: North Florida, USA
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 12:15 pm Post subject: Re: will my coil work with pertronix electric ignition? |
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The high internal resistance (3-4ohms) ignition coils are designed to reduce the current that passes thru the points. This extends the life of the points.
With early electronic points like the Pertronix Ignitor1 or CompuFire, they also want high resistance in the primary coil circuit to reduce the current that passes thru the module. Pair these with a low resistance coil and you could overheat/burn up the module.
The later Ignitor II & III had different requirements. They would work with lower resistance in the primary coil windings. This is a good thing. Lower primary resistance means more current flowing. More current passing thru the ignition coil primary means more power in the secondary windings which translate into higher secondary voltages at the spark plugs (all else being equal). Higher voltages mean you may be able to increase the spark plug gap which produces a more reliable spark. Even if you don't increase the gap, the spark will be more powerful and can jump the electrode gap in a wider range of situations that may have previously led to a failed spark for that plug/cylinder. No, its not a CDI, but it should theoretically be better than stock.
So don't turn down electric points that will work with lower resistance coils. This is more desirable if you want to improve your ignition system with greater output power.
And I agree with slalombuggy... RTFM.  _________________ AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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