[PA_cob]

The coil I was using was a Pertronix Flamethrower, which specifically states that it wants a full 12v without the ballast wire.

I doubt it died from overheating as it has been in my car for five or more years now! It has definitely seen many worse drives. However, I'm paranoid that the new Holley system managed to kill it somehow. But even that doesn't really make sense since I had driven 580 miles on the same day before it died. I'm hoping it just gave up.

Ummm, note the instruction sheet where it says to NOT remove the ballast or resistance wire if the primary resistance is lower than specified. With the ballast resistor/resistance wire the primary resistance should be at or near 1.5 ohms. Without the resistance wire your primary resistance is going to be at or near 0.1 ohm.

I don't think Pertronix is very clear about this value NOT including the internal resistance of the coil itself. The total primary circuit resistance, measured from the ignition switch "C" terminal to ground, with the points or trigger closed (coil being charged) should be around 3.0 ohms.

But if you use the resistor wire you aren't getting the full 12 volts to the coil and ignition like the pertronix needs.

 

[PA_cob]

I understand where you are coming from Kelly. I understand the instructions the same way. I assume that by running straight 12 volts to the coil that the coil itself is providing the 1.5 ohms of resistance that the ignitor 1 needs. Or in your case the super coil provides 1.4 ohms. Not sure why you would need to add another 1.5 ohm ballast wouldn't that give to much resistance overall. I am sure that @Huskinhano understands that better than me. Maybe he can elaborate.

 

[PA_cob]

@Huskinhano so my main question is which side of the coul is primary and which is secondary. Since you say that primary to secondary goes reduces power and secondary to primary multiplies it I would assume that the positive side of a coil is secondary? That would mean that primary is the negative side. Since the coil multiplies voltage from 12 to 40,000. Is that correct.