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Old 10-04-2019, 04:49 PM   #1
wahoo54
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Default Ballast resistor getting real hot

I have a 38 ford tudor with the V860 engine. Previous owner said it was converted to 12 volt and was kinda. 12 Volt battery and thats about it. I replaed the voltage regulator with a 12 volt, the light bulbs, condensor etc.. I've been having trouble with ballast resistor getting really hot. I had to disconnect the battery. My lights also quit. Any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong? Sorry but I've never converted one over and I sure don't want to burn my car up. ANy help much appreciated.
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Old 10-04-2019, 05:06 PM   #2
BUBBAS IGNITION
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Ballast probably is a .6 factory ford , 12 volt needs at least 1.5 ohm, and even then they do get hot .
For a perfect system you need a 1.5 ohm coil and a 1.5 ohm resistor.........OR a Bosch Blue 3.0 ohm coil # 00012 then you wouldnt need any ignition resistor.........
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Old 10-04-2019, 05:19 PM   #3
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Thanks Bubba's ignition. I'll look into that.
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Old 10-04-2019, 05:20 PM   #4
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Jseery it looks like a stock 6 volt. I need to check the out put. I really don't know why it has a voltage regulator but it does. I just changed it to 12 volt.
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Old 10-04-2019, 05:30 PM   #5
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Bubba will this work? Not sure if it's 1.5 OHM or not.

https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_m...amps-ford.html
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Old 10-04-2019, 05:31 PM   #6
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

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Bubba, I've tried calling you to see about sending my distributor to you but no one answers the phone. Is there any other way to contact you? Hope you're getting better. Thanks for the advice.

Last edited by wahoo54; 10-04-2019 at 06:17 PM.
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Old 10-05-2019, 07:10 AM   #7
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

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Originally Posted by wahoo54 View Post
Bubba, I've tried calling you to see about sending my distributor to you but no one answers the phone. Is there any other way to contact you? Hope you're getting better. Thanks for the advice.
A pm here works very well, or use my [email protected] email as i do answer the email often. The phone i dont answer very well as it takes up a ton of time .
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Old 10-05-2019, 12:15 PM   #8
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Thanks Bubba!
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Old 10-04-2019, 05:09 PM   #9
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

What are you using for a generator? What is the voltage out of the generator to the battery and rest of the system? What type of ballast resistor are you using? A 38 would not have had a voltage regulator originally, it would have used a cut-out, so something was changed there.
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Old 10-04-2019, 08:14 PM   #10
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Jseery what would require a person install a voltage regulator?
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Old 10-04-2019, 05:35 PM   #11
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Bubba has had some very severe health issues and is only working part-time at best.
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Old 10-04-2019, 06:15 PM   #12
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Oh so sorry to hear that. I do appreciate his advice on here. Thanks Bubba!
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Old 10-04-2019, 08:24 PM   #13
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

A two brush vs a three brush generator. The earlier generators just used a cut-out, somewhere in the 39 model year Ford switched to the Voltage Regulator generators.
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Old 10-04-2019, 08:36 PM   #14
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

That makes sense. I bet it's a newer generator. When I hook the battery back up I'll check it's output. Thanks!
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Old 10-04-2019, 08:53 PM   #15
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Per Flat Ernie - "you can use the 6V field coils if they ohm out below about 4 ohms. If they're higher than that & you pull max current through them at 12V, you MIGHT lose some solder from the commutator & it MIGHT destroy your armature. But I've converted many from 6V to 12V simply by using a 12V VR"
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Old 10-04-2019, 09:18 PM   #16
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Good info Jseery. Thanks.
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Old 10-04-2019, 09:20 PM   #17
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Still can't figure out why my lights won't come on and the ballast resistor is getting so hot. It wasn't before and I drove it around town several days with no problem. Then suddenly the other night the lights just went off and the car died. I turned the lights out and managed to get it started and it runs ok. Just no lights and the wiring gets real hot at the BR.

Last edited by wahoo54; 10-04-2019 at 09:29 PM.
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Old 10-04-2019, 09:33 PM   #18
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

How is the car wired up, does it have a CB or a Fuse on the lighting circuit? And do the tail lights work, instrument lights? Are the lights controlled by the steering column light control switch? Ford with to a CB and dash mounted lighting control switch in 1940, but things can be a bit mixed up between the years.
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File Type: jpg Flathead_Electrical_wiring1939std.jpg (63.6 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg Flathead_Electrical_wiring1939dlx.jpg (98.6 KB, 9 views)

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Old 10-04-2019, 11:07 PM   #19
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

It has a one fuse. Instrument lights work but tail and brake don't. Yes they're controlled by the steering column light control switch. It's a standard not a deluxe so only the minimal things. I replaced the fuse once but the second time the lights wouldn't come on. Maybe a burned wire?
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Old 10-05-2019, 04:35 AM   #20
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Default Re: Ballast resistor getting real hot

Were the bulbs changed to 12 volt or are they burned out with the 12 Volts ? just a thought!
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