[hueyhoolihan]

coils should show continuity between the + and - studs (they could be marked with something like a "FLD" or "BAT" or some other mnemonics) but there will be no continuity at the high voltage (tension) outlet between either stud.

if hooked up to a battery such that one of the coil's studs is connected to one the of the battery's terminals and the other stud is connected to the other terminal, the coil will emit current (and a very, very high voltage current) from the center outlet to ground, only when one of the coil's studs is disconnected from the battery.

the voltage may be high enough to jump an air gap of up to an inch to get to ground.