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Positive or negative ground?

I am installing a new coil. I saw that this is either a negative or positive ground system but I'm not sure which. Should my positive go to the distributor or negative. The old coil only had words like to dist and to battery. No polarity info on the bottom of the old coil it mentions something about negative polarity... but it's so worn I can't make it out.

Where Are You From? Langley bc

Do You own a car built by Durant? Durant M2 1928

Re: Positive or negative ground?

Generally, positive on coil goes to battery. In practice it really doesn't matter because the coil is only a load. When the points open it causes the voltage in the primary coil windings to collapse across the secondary windings and create a voltage surge, also called a spark jump. The only consideration is that the secondary windings MUST be attached at the + terminal of the coil.(This would be an internal feature of the coil.) The other end of the secondary winding goes to the spark plug, of course.

Where Are You From? Texarkana, Tx

Do You own a car built by Durant? several

Re: Positive or negative ground?

Let me back up on this and say that the primary windings(low voltage), and secondary windings (high voltage) are always joined to the negative coil terminal going to the points. The positive terminal still goes to the battery (or ignition switch).

Where Are You From? Texarkana, Tx

Do You own a car built by Durant? several

Re: Positive or negative ground?

Lol. Thank you Don. I spent yesterday reading a forum arguing about which one went to the battery and after 50 or so posts... it still wasn't clear what was correct. I will run the positive lead to the battery then.

I appreciate all the help.

Where Are You From? Langley bc

Do You own a car built by Durant? Durant M2 1928

 

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