Run Without Battery

[chilly1]

Will my 1971 Chrysler with standard ignition run without battery, or will a weak battery make my spark weak?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Run Without Battery

That year has an alternator /battery ignition. While the battery supplies power to the igniton, the alternator is actually the primary source and replaces cranking loss and power to the ignition. IF you can get the engine started, the alternator will supply enough power to fire the coils, provided everything is functioning.

The engine can, therefore run without a battery connected BUT it is a bad idea. without the battery load, it is possible to damage the diodes in the rectifier/regulator. IF you have the big square red germanium rectifier, it is almost impossible to damage but the trip regulator transistor can be damaged.

NOW: if the trip regulator is damaged or if the germanium rectifier is damaged, the alternator will not be able to adequately charge the battery and between cranking draw and running draw, the engine ignition will falter and get weak.

So yes, under some conditions a weak battery will cause a poor spark.

 

[chilly1]

Re: Run Without Battery

Thanks, Frank. My intention is not to run w/o battery, but to find out if the running motor is dependent at all on the battery. Like you can remove a battery cable on a fully functioning car with no change in running. I am curious if my spark will improve while cruising on the water at higher rpm than in the driveway at low rpm.