Pertronix Ignitor Instal

[mikeapi]

I have a 1986 Sea Ray Seville with a 3.0 140HP Mercruiser engine.
I'm in the process of replacing the points with the Pertronix Ignitor and new coil. The coil requires a ballast resistor, which the engine alreadey has a resister wire. The Pertronix requiers a full 12 volts. The instructions for Pertonix says to connect the positive wire to the ignition switch. This is where I'm a little confused. Do I have to run a wire from the Ignitor all the way up so the ignition switch where I turn the key, or can I connect the Ignitor up to the positive side of the battery, or the larger red wire connected to the starter.

I appreciate any help that I can get.
Thank you.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor Instal

NO in all cases. That wire needs to be switched -- meaning active only when the key is on. Neither of the places you suggested is switched and therefore the coil would kill the battery when moored. Find the resistance wire and connect the wire at a point ahead of where the resistance wire starts. This may be on the R terminal of the starter solenoid if that's where it originates. Fold over the end of the resistance wire and tape it off or simply disconnect it at both ends. Label it so the next owner (and you ) remember what it was for.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor Instal

If you wired it straight to the battery you could not turn the engine off. Also if you did get the engine to die it would run down your battery. Keep the old parts, tools and instruction on the boat so when it craps out you can hook up your old points and make it back in. I hope it is a Pertronix Ignitor II model as the first model would burn up if you left the key on with the engine stalled.
I have towed in two boats that installed them.

 

[mikeapi]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor Instal

Thank you for the information.
I did find a terminal on the starter solenoid that is switched at 12 volts, so I will use it. You said to fold over the resistor wire and tape it, but I still need it. The Ignitor requires 12v but the coil needs the resistor wire to lower the voltage to 8.5.
I'm hoping that this week end will be nice enough to empty my garage so I can get the boat out and start it up.
I didn't get the Ignitor II, though now I wish I did.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor Instal

I did find a terminal on the starter solenoid that is switched at 12 volts, so I will use it.

Ayuh,... Then yer wiring is f*#ked up...
The starter should only see 12v, with the key in the Start position...

You said to fold over the resistor wire and tape it, but I still need it.

Nope,... Read the instructions again...

Coils only use stepped down voltage to save the points...

 

[mikeapi]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor Instal

I don't know what I did wrong, but I double checked the voltage on the starter terminal connected to the coil, but this time I removed the wire on the coil, and I didn't get any voltage. I did check with the company I purchased the coil from and they confirmed that this coil should be used with a reduced voltage or it will burn out.
Since then I purchased a new flame thrower epoxy filled coil which can be used with 12 volts. I unwrapped the harness of wires that the resistor wire run up in and found the wire that the resistor wire was soldered to. I soldered a new wire to it and ran it to the coil.
The engine started right up. I couldn't believe the extra RPMs that I was getting with the conversion.
This morning I ordered the Ignitor ii, and plan on using the ignitor i as a back up.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Pertronix Ignitor Instal

If you got a higher rpms I would be sure and check the timing.
People I know that installed got a slightly smother idel and nothing else they could notice. So if you engine is running at higher rpms I think your timing is off now or it was off before.
Check it to make sure it is not too fast.
Also higher idle speed not really good for shifting.