The Ford Barn

41plym · 02-09-2022, 03:43 PM

Should both sides of the coil be hot with both the key on and the key off?

GRutter · 02-09-2022, 04:42 PM

Assuming original wiring -
With the ignition key OFF, you will read 6v from both coil terminals to ground.
With ignition on, you will read 6v on the bat side to ground, and either 6v or 0v on the other terminal, depending on whether the points are open or closed.

41plym · 02-09-2022, 06:25 PM

Thank You.

rotorwrench · 02-10-2022, 10:58 AM

With a hot wire to the coil all the time, any check to ground on the small terminals will give a reading since the check completes the circuit.

If a person changes the ignition switch wiring to open and close the power wire instead of the grounding wire to the distributor then that would remove power to the coil when the switch is off.

Bob Bidonde · 02-11-2022, 09:38 AM

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The coil is connected to the battery full time because the ignition switch is between the coil and distributor. If you connect the red wire side of the coil momentarily to ground while the switch is off, the coil will produce a hi-voltage output.

02-09-2022, 03:43 PM	#1
41plym Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ridgefield Washington Posts: 87	coil Should both sides of the coil be hot with both the key on and the key off?

02-09-2022, 04:42 PM	#2
GRutter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Mint Hill, North Carolina Posts: 386	Re: coil Assuming original wiring - With the ignition key OFF, you will read 6v from both coil terminals to ground. With ignition on, you will read 6v on the bat side to ground, and either 6v or 0v on the other terminal, depending on whether the points are open or closed.

02-09-2022, 06:25 PM	#3
41plym Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ridgefield Washington Posts: 87	Re: coil Thank You.

02-10-2022, 10:58 AM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: coil With a hot wire to the coil all the time, any check to ground on the small terminals will give a reading since the check completes the circuit. If a person changes the ignition switch wiring to open and close the power wire instead of the grounding wire to the distributor then that would remove power to the coil when the switch is off.

02-11-2022, 09:38 AM	#5
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,472	Re: coil Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The coil is connected to the battery full time because the ignition switch is between the coil and distributor. If you connect the red wire side of the coil momentarily to ground while the switch is off, the coil will produce a hi-voltage output. __________________ Bob Bidonde