Help identifying electrical component.

[peterschlaf]

I am just starting to learn about my 1952 Ford 8N and have been unable to find this component in any of the electrical diagrams or 12V conversion schematics.
Will somebody tell me what this part (to which the arrow is pointing) is called and the role it plays?

 

[J Hamilton]

It is a resistor, it drops the voltage to the coil. Like if you were using a 6 volt coil with a 12 volt battery to prevent burning up the ignition componets

 

[peterschlaf]

(quoted from post at 07:19:15 02/07/23) It is a resistor, it drops the voltage to the coil. Like if you were using a 6 volt coil with a 12 volt battery to prevent burning up the ignition componets

Thank you. I now see in the side mount version of the 12V conversion kit that includes a resistor and does not include a 12V coil. Is there a benefit to haveing a 12V coil or would you be indifferent? Appears i have a hybrid of sorts. Thanks again.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley RIP]

Well, it's a resistor that really is not needed if you use a 12V coil. You need to add the external, in-line 1-OHM resistor only if you use your OEM 6V coil when doing a 12V switch job. The best investment one can make, newbies and well seasoned vets as well, for your tractor, or any machine for that matter, is to get the ESSENTIAL MANUALS. For an 8N you need the original or a new repop copies of the OPERATOR'S MANUAL; the I&T FO-4 SERVICE MANUAL; the 39-53 MPC; and the 8N SERVICE MANUAL for MECHANICS & DEALERS. Parts can be purchased at DC. Since 12V systems didn't come out until the late 1950's and then only with the diesel models, no FORD N-SERIES manual exists that diagram a 12V conversion. YT House Electrical Guru JMOR has done a fine document, WIRING PICTOGRAMS, on all the correct ways to wire these old N Fords. Just having a 12V battery does not mean the system is wired correctly for that setup. Ther is more to the electrical system than that:12V ALT, and DELETE the GEN & VR, 3-Wire Starter Motor with RELAY (SOLENOID), AMMETER, IGNITION SWITCH, SAFETY START PUSHBUTTON, and all wired correctly.

FORD 8N WIRING PICTOGRAMS by JMOR, 12V CONVERSION:

NOTE:When using the OEM 6V Coil, add an external, 1-OHM resistor, usually a white ceramic part. It connects in-line to the brown coil wire as shown. Delete the extra resistor by swapping to a verified 12V coil.

FWIW, the OEM 8N Electrical Diagram, 6V/POS GRN, used 50-52:

FORD 8N TRACTOR ESENTIAL OWNER/OPERATOR/PARTS/SERVICE MANUALS:

Tim Daley(MI)

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley RIP]

Yeah, a 12V coil is a definite benefit -it eliminates having extra parts to deal with. My preference and advice is to use it.


Tim Daley(MI)

 

[J Hamilton]

Many people will argue till the cows come home about which to use. In reality, assuming you are using a 12 volt. Some 12v coils will say a resistor is needed and some do not need one, keep that in mind. Or you can use a 6v coil with the resistor as well. Any one of these will drop the voltage to where it needs to be for the points

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Any one of these will drop the voltage to where it needs to be for the points

No, sorry, but that is wrong.

Points do NOT care about primary voltage. 6v or 12v, does not matter. And it does not matter to the condenser either. Because if it did, you would see points and condensers sold for 6v or 12v systems. And you don't.

The resistor is need to reduce operating current to the coil, most often to 4 amps or less. Internal coil resistance is determined by wire gauge and the number of turns. Higher resistance is provided by smaller gauge wire with greater turns. If the coil is marked or sold with a notice requires an external resistor that simply means it has a low internal resistance and will be damaged by excessive voltage. It does not mean the coil has an internal resistor. Yes, plenty of coils are advertised as having an internal resistor. Thats called advertising, not electrical engineering. To be both accurate and precise, every automotive coil should simply state the internal resistance of the coil. But that would require a basic understanding of the Kettering Ignition system. So to keep it simple, ANY side coil with an internal resistance of 3.25 ohms will work fine on a 12 volt 8N w/o any external resistor. Like the NAPA coil, p/n IC14SB. Many folks just add a 12 volt coil rather than dealing with trying to find an external resistor to work with their existing 6v coil. Like the one in the picture. Too much resistance gets you a weak spark; not enough and the coil melts. Using a resistor with a coil
75 Tips

 

[Eman85]

It's one more thing to go wrong. The simpler the better.

 

[nuttsaboutFORDS]

When I rewired mine to 12V, I tossed the resistor that came with the kit and installed a 12V internally resisted coil.

 

[J Hamilton]

Yes, I meant coil, not points. I was going to mention something about the points and lost my train of thought, my mistake.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley RIP]

The added in-line resistor is used on all 12V conversions only IF using the OEM 6-VOLT coil as stated. Eschew the extra resistor by swapping out the 6V Coil with a verified 12V coil. Not all 12V Coil are created equal no matter what they might say on the box and some say you need to add the extra resistor. That's only true if the 12V coil does not meet resistance drop value spec. It matters where you buy from. You can easily test the front mount coil if it is a 6V unit by the pic and text below. DO NOT confuse the OEM 9N-12250 BALLAST RESISTOR with the external 1-OHM resistor -THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING. The BALLAST RESISTOR is only used on the front mount distributor and must be in both a 6V and a 12V circuit. The Angle (Side) Mount Distributor, used from 1950 on, does NOT have the Ballast Resistor. You can make your own external in-line resistor by twisting together two 1-OHM, 10-WATT resistors, available from any electronic supply house/hobby store. This makes it a 1/2 OHM, 20-WATT resistor and usually does the trick. This method was devised by our old, now deceased, FORD TRACTOR guru DELL. Gitcha one!


OUTSOURCED CERAMIC 1-OHM RESISTOR, USED ONLY WITH A 12V CONVERSION AND THE 6V COIL:

FORD FRONT MOUNT COIL - HOW TO TEST:

*Using your VOM set to OHMS, place one probe on the top terminal tab and the other probe one the bottom pigtail contact spring. Polarity does not matter for this test. A 6-VOLT coil will show approximately 1.5 OHMS.



FORD TRACTOR OEM 9N-12250 BALLAST RESISTOR, ONLY USED ON THE FRONT MOUNT DISTRIBUTOR:

Tim Daley(MI)

 

[Jim L WA]

(quoted from post at 07:09:55 02/07/23) I am just starting to learn about my 1952 Ford 8N and have been unable to find this component in any of the electrical diagrams or 12V conversion schematics.
Will somebody tell me what this part (to which the arrow is pointing) is called and the role it plays?
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto146920.jpg>

Peter, are you referring to the resister or to what appears to be a lamp socket? If you are asking about the lamp socket, it may be part of a 12 volt conversion using a three wire alternator.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 14:36:07 02/08/23)

(quoted from post at 07:09:55 02/07/23) I am just starting to learn about my 1952 Ford 8N and have been unable to find this component in any of the electrical diagrams or 12V conversion schematics.
Will somebody tell me what this part (to which the arrow is pointing) is called and the role it plays?
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto146920.jpg>

Peter, are you referring to the resister or to what appears to be a lamp socket? If you are asking about the lamp socket, it may be part of a 12 volt conversion using a three wire alternator.

????????????????????? arrow is pointing to the item in question :roll:

 

[Jim L WA]

(quoted from post at 12:22:25 02/08/23)

(quoted from post at 14:36:07 02/08/23)

(quoted from post at 07:09:55 02/07/23) I am just starting to learn about my 1952 Ford 8N and have been unable to find this component in any of the electrical diagrams or 12V conversion schematics.
Will somebody tell me what this part (to which the arrow is pointing) is called and the role it plays?
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto146920.jpg>

Peter, are you referring to the resister or to what appears to be a lamp socket? If you are asking about the lamp socket, it may be part of a 12 volt conversion using a three wire alternator.

????????????????????? arrow is pointing to the item in question :roll:

Oops, red arrow against the red paint. Didn't see that.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley RIP]

Jim-
N's never had a lamp socket, except for the early 9N's that used the Ignition ON Lamp, and especially made for 12V as that system didn't exist then. 12V didn't get
released until the late 1950's and then only on diesel models. ALL 12V conversion kits were/are aftermarket supplied and if some have a lamp, it is the manufacturer
who designed it like that. In his picture, it is the Ignition Key Switch you are looking at.

EARLY FORD 1939 9N DASH w/IGNITION 'ON' LAMP BELOW AMMETER:

EARLY FORD 1948 8N DASH w/IGNITION KEY SWITCH LOCATION ON LOWER LH:

LATE 1950 FORD 8N DASH w/IGNITION KEY SWITCH LOCATION ON LOWER LH:

HO-MADE & AFTERMARKET IGNITION SWITCHES ON 8N DASH:

Tim Daley(MI)

 

[JMOR]

I guess that one switch id OFF in center and 'run' either up or down?

 

[Jim L WA]

Tim, even though I missed the red arrow, did you actually read what I said or did you just started typing and posting photos?

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley RIP]

Jim, YOU SAID: ...are you referring to the resister or to what appears to be a lamp socket? If you are asking about the lamp socket, it may be part of a 12 volt
conversion using a three wire alternator... I replied N's never had a light socket except for the early 9N. Which part didn't you understand? I wouldn't use a lamp
socket anyway with an alternator, but, whatever ya want...


Tim Daley(MI)