04-10-2018, 06:23 PM
Hi All
I'm a bit worried by the current draw shown on the ammeter when I switch on the ignition on my 1930 RK. It reads 6 amps discharge (without the engine running). I've established that when the points are open the discharge is pretty much zero so I reason that it can only be the ignition circuit that is causing the high current draw.
I thought I'd found the answer when I tested the coil and found the resistance between the + and - terminals was 1 ohm. I reasoned that from ohms law 6 volts divided by 1 ohm gives 6 amps. I thought the coil was faulty. So I purchased a new coil from a reputed supplier and found that too had a resistance of just 1 ohm and apparently that is normal for the coils they sell.
The car starts, runs and has no ill effects from the high ignition current apart from the fact the dynamo struggles to counter the discharge unless its revved.
Question is 6 amp discharge normal? Is there anything else that could be drawing the current?
Cheers
Howard
I'm a bit worried by the current draw shown on the ammeter when I switch on the ignition on my 1930 RK. It reads 6 amps discharge (without the engine running). I've established that when the points are open the discharge is pretty much zero so I reason that it can only be the ignition circuit that is causing the high current draw.
I thought I'd found the answer when I tested the coil and found the resistance between the + and - terminals was 1 ohm. I reasoned that from ohms law 6 volts divided by 1 ohm gives 6 amps. I thought the coil was faulty. So I purchased a new coil from a reputed supplier and found that too had a resistance of just 1 ohm and apparently that is normal for the coils they sell.
The car starts, runs and has no ill effects from the high ignition current apart from the fact the dynamo struggles to counter the discharge unless its revved.
Question is 6 amp discharge normal? Is there anything else that could be drawing the current?
Cheers
Howard