59 apache coil question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

YeahDoggie · 07-24-2014, 10:30 PM

First of all, thank you guys for helping me with my electrical issues. I suck at electrical...

So my apache has the 235 with the foot starter. When my key is in the on position, the + coil wire is getting the same voltage as the battery. When I start the engine, the voltage jumps to 20-25 volts. Coil gets a little hot. Is this normal? I didnt think so. Tried to change the ballast resistor. Didn't help. Could the issue be the ignition switch???

Any info is appreciated.

67 Burb · 07-27-2014, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YeahDoggie

First of all, thank you guys for helping me with my electrical issues. I suck at electrical...

So my apache has the 235 with the foot starter. When my key is in the on position, the + coil wire is getting the same voltage as the battery. When I start the engine, the voltage jumps to 20-25 volts. Coil gets a little hot. Is this normal? I didnt think so. Tried to change the ballast resistor. Didn't help. Could the issue be the ignition switch???

Any info is appreciated.

You say "When I start the engine". Is this happening when you are cranking the engine? Or when the engine is running?

YeahDoggie · 07-27-2014, 01:15 PM

Sorry for the confusion. I meant when it's running. The coil, voltage regulator, ballast resistor are all new. I've also tried 2 different ignition switches.

67 Burb · 07-29-2014, 12:49 AM

You should NOT have 20 to 25 volts with the engine running (or at any time). What are you running for alternator or generator? Original or upgrade? That much voltage in a 12 volt system will burn things out.

YeahDoggie · 07-29-2014, 12:53 AM

Running the original generator. I've also changed the voltage regulator. When it's running it is getting around 14 volts to the battery. 20-25 on both sides of the ballast resistor. I've also tried a different ignition switch. Nothing helped.

Thanks for the reply

67 Burb · 07-29-2014, 12:59 AM

For the life of me, I can't imagine why there should be 20 to 25 volts there. How can you have that voltage if the gen is putting 14 volts to the battery?

Anybody on here have an answer?

dwcsr · 07-29-2014, 09:36 PM

You have something wrong with the regulator. A generator will put out as much a 28 volts at 20 amps so what your seeing can happen. The regulator is defective , miss wired , not polarized or a wire shorted shorted. 25 volts will cook your coils quickly. It needs 9 volts max

**TBONE1964** · 07-29-2014, 09:46 PM

That is a mystery to me too. I don't think any system in the truck would survive 20-25 volts. What ever had that kind of voltage to it would certainly have a melt down. All of the fuses would blow also.

When you say both sides of the ballast resistor have 20-25 volts, that defeats the purpose of the ballast resistor. On a normal 12V system the ballast resistor would be used to drop the voltage from 12 down to say 5 volts. So it would have battery voltage (12V on one side and ruduced down to 5 volts on the other side. This was used on early point style ignitions because the points would burn out quickly with 12V and were much more reliable with 5 volts.

Are you absolutely sure you are reading the meter correctly? Unless you have a voltage regulator stick open, you would never see that voltage number from a 12 V system. You may see 16 to 17 and then things would start melting and fuses blowing.

I would check it with a different meter just for reference.

**TBONE1964** · 07-29-2014, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwcsr

You have something wrong with the regulator. A generator will put out as much a 28 volts at 20 amps so what your seeing can happen. The regulator is defective , miss wired , not polarized or a wire shorted shorted. 25 volts will cook your coils quickly. It needs 9 volts max

Ok, I learn something here too. Thank you Dave

I did not think that voltage was possible from a 12V system.

**VetteVet** · 07-29-2014, 10:42 PM

Boy it's been a long time since I worked with generators. I did a little googling and found this.
http://www.netlink.net/mp/volks/htm/gen.htm
.....

I would think that if he's seeing 24 volts on the ignition wire that he should see it at the battery too.

dwcsr · 07-29-2014, 11:14 PM

Its only a 12 v system because thats what we regulate it to, If the system regulator is no good its a what ever it puts out system. Really its a 13.2 system, we charge at 13.4 to 14.4 to over come the battery push back.

These generators are often used here as wind generators that's the only reason I know they can put out a lot of juice.

The battery can't hold 24 v it only has enough cells for 12 (13.2) . 2.2 per cell is its capacity.

07-24-2014, 10:30 PM	#1
YeahDoggie Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa Posts: 5	59 apache coil question First of all, thank you guys for helping me with my electrical issues. I suck at electrical... So my apache has the 235 with the foot starter. When my key is in the on position, the + coil wire is getting the same voltage as the battery. When I start the engine, the voltage jumps to 20-25 volts. Coil gets a little hot. Is this normal? I didnt think so. Tried to change the ballast resistor. Didn't help. Could the issue be the ignition switch??? Any info is appreciated.

07-27-2014, 01:15 PM	#3
YeahDoggie Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa Posts: 5	Re: 59 apache coil question Sorry for the confusion. I meant when it's running. The coil, voltage regulator, ballast resistor are all new. I've also tried 2 different ignition switches.

07-29-2014, 12:49 AM	#4
67 Burb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 546	Re: 59 apache coil question You should NOT have 20 to 25 volts with the engine running (or at any time). What are you running for alternator or generator? Original or upgrade? That much voltage in a 12 volt system will burn things out. __________________ Bob 1967 2wd Burb, 350/TH350, 3.73 posi

07-29-2014, 12:53 AM	#5
YeahDoggie Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa Posts: 5	Re: 59 apache coil question Running the original generator. I've also changed the voltage regulator. When it's running it is getting around 14 volts to the battery. 20-25 on both sides of the ballast resistor. I've also tried a different ignition switch. Nothing helped. Thanks for the reply

07-29-2014, 12:59 AM	#6
67 Burb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 546	Re: 59 apache coil question For the life of me, I can't imagine why there should be 20 to 25 volts there. How can you have that voltage if the gen is putting 14 volts to the battery? Anybody on here have an answer? __________________ Bob 1967 2wd Burb, 350/TH350, 3.73 posi

07-29-2014, 09:36 PM	#7
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,134	Re: 59 apache coil question You have something wrong with the regulator. A generator will put out as much a 28 volts at 20 amps so what your seeing can happen. The regulator is defective , miss wired , not polarized or a wire shorted shorted. 25 volts will cook your coils quickly. It needs 9 volts max

07-29-2014, 09:46 PM	#8
TBONE1964 Cluster King Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Junction City, OR Posts: 5,263	Re: 59 apache coil question That is a mystery to me too. I don't think any system in the truck would survive 20-25 volts. What ever had that kind of voltage to it would certainly have a melt down. All of the fuses would blow also. When you say both sides of the ballast resistor have 20-25 volts, that defeats the purpose of the ballast resistor. On a normal 12V system the ballast resistor would be used to drop the voltage from 12 down to say 5 volts. So it would have battery voltage (12V on one side and ruduced down to 5 volts on the other side. This was used on early point style ignitions because the points would burn out quickly with 12V and were much more reliable with 5 volts. Are you absolutely sure you are reading the meter correctly? Unless you have a voltage regulator stick open, you would never see that voltage number from a 12 V system. You may see 16 to 17 and then things would start melting and fuses blowing. I would check it with a different meter just for reference. __________________ Contact me on all of your gauge cluster needs. I specialize in restoration, repair and parts sales for 67-72 Chevy and GMC trucks. email me at tbonegarris@yahoo.com I am also a dealer for Counterpart for gauge cluster parts only. Also see my facebook page, CG&C

07-29-2014, 10:42 PM	#10
VetteVet Msgt USAF Ret Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 8,703	Re: 59 apache coil question Boy it's been a long time since I worked with generators. I did a little googling and found this. http://www.netlink.net/mp/volks/htm/gen.htm ..... I would think that if he's seeing 24 volts on the ignition wire that he should see it at the battery too. __________________ VetteVet metallic green 67 stepside 74 corvette convertible 1965 Harley sportster 1995 Harley wide glide Growing old is hell, but it beats the alternative.

07-29-2014, 11:14 PM	#11
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,134	Re: 59 apache coil question Its only a 12 v system because thats what we regulate it to, If the system regulator is no good its a what ever it puts out system. Really its a 13.2 system, we charge at 13.4 to 14.4 to over come the battery push back. These generators are often used here as wind generators that's the only reason I know they can put out a lot of juice. The battery can't hold 24 v it only has enough cells for 12 (13.2) . 2.2 per cell is its capacity.



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