MSD ignition with ballast resistor

• Apr 3, 2025

• #1

Markie

Active Member

Local time

3:00 AM

Joined

May 10, 2020

Messages

27

Reaction score

23

Location

Honolulu,Hawaii

Why must ballast resistor be removed or bypassed with MSD ignition installation.

 

• Apr 3, 2025

• #2

mpgmike

Well-Known Member

Local time

8:00 AM

Joined

Jan 6, 2013

Messages

360

Reaction score

878

Location

Oklahoma

Because the capacitive discharge and multi-sparks take a lot of electrical energy, and the ballast resistor restricts it too much. That's my guess.

 

• Apr 4, 2025

• #3

G

Geoff 2

Well-Known Member

Local time

8:00 AM

Joined

Jul 21, 2014

Messages

3,022

Reaction score

2,241

Location

Australia

The MSD instructions say it is NOT necessary to remove/bypass the bal res....

 

• Jul 22, 2025

• #4

C

chrger1967

Well-Known Member

Local time

9:00 AM

Joined

May 18, 2025

Messages

403

Reaction score

140

Location

07733

Markie said:

Why must ballast resistor be removed or bypassed with MSD ignition installation.

Click to expand...

I have the same question for a Portronix II setup with a “Flamethrower” coil. I see MSD has a ballast resistor, can that be used instead of the original?