<VV> 64 run circuit problem Resolution

[Hugo Miller]

Was it overheating? They are meant to get hot, aren't they? This also 
illustrates the hazard of checking power supply with a voltmeter, as I 
said previously; you don't say as much, but I reckon you would still 
have got 12 volts at the meter with no lead on the dirty connection - 
only when it has to pass enough current to power the coil (or a test 
lamp) will the voltage drop become apparent.


On 2018-06-20 08:54, Smitty via VirtualVairs wrote:
> Smitty says;  Finally after all these months.  We had checked voltage
> at the coil many times but never continuously while the engine was
> running.  Darned it didn’t start dropping the closer to the 20-30
> minute time frame it got.  Finally down to 4.5 volts and the engine
> died.  OK so we got a new clue, but still no answer why.  Now we 
> noted
> that the voltage on the big red wire going forward through the belly
> pan was dropping also.  We had read out the wire from the coupling
> under the dash and back to the coupling in the engine compartment and
> all seemed well.  Except of course we had been reading it when 
> nothing
> was operating and things were cool.  Now we knew to measure and feel
> for heat in the couplings when the engine had been running for a
> while.  Sure enough. heat build up in the forward connector.  The red
> wire and another pin showed evidence of corrosion so they were well
> scraped and cleaned and treated with contact cleaner.  The connector
> was coated with dielectric grease and put back together.  No more
> voltage drop at the coil.  So the initial problem was solved but it
> leaves me with a question.  Why was that making the ballast resistor
> overheat.  Maybe one of you electricians would enlighten me.
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