Ballast Resistor ID - 4 different types??

[Jeff A.]

While going through some Ballast Resistors, it seems I have 4 different styles.
Was wondering if someone can help me to ID these as to year.
3 styles with "no trough" each with a different side configuration.

The 1 style with the trough are all like the square tab in the middle.
Any ideas?

[John S.]

Re: Ballast Resistor ID - 4 different types??

first of all they probably come from passenger cars and are 1.8 ohms. corvettes are .3 ohms. for configuration, as long as you have the tab, the solid band is 55. 56 and 57 is the half moon indentation. the band with the U cut into it with the trough 58- 62 or 63. a 57 thru 59 owner might be able to tell you what year the band with the U and no trough was used.

[Ray K.]

Re: Ballast Resistor ID - 4 different types??

Corvettes from 1963 - 67 also used the 1.8 ohm resistor, the same as regular passenger cars & trucks. It is identified in the catalogs as #1957154 with a blue stripe. The number #1931385 is the .03 ohm and with a black dot. I do not know if production resistors had these blue or black features, but there were various bands and ceramic designs as shown by Jeff's pics.

Ray

[Jeff A.]

Re: Ballast Resistor ID - 4 different types??

I have had these sitting here for a long time - going to start cleaning them next week - should maybe find some markings at that time.

Interesting - There is one of these, that has two holes in the back and has a much larger coiled resistor running through the backside - no trough - no tab on that one - I remember years ago getting a bunch of these when I found a field full of Tri-5 Chevys - a farmer had collected a bunch of carcasses and I was able to pick stuff from them.

[Mike M.]

Re: Ballast Resistor ID - 4 different types??

I have had these sitting here for a long time - going to start cleaning them next week - should maybe find some markings at that time.

Interesting - There is one of these, that has two holes in the back and has a much larger coiled resistor running through the backside - no trough - no tab on that one - I remember years ago getting a bunch of these when I found a field full of Tri-5 Chevys - a farmer had collected a bunch of carcasses and I was able to pick stuff from them.

jeff: i took one off a 55 pontiac identical to the one in your photo. the no trough with thumb-nail cut-out is what i'd expect to see on a 56-57 corvette.mike

[John S.]

Re: Ballast Resistor ID - 4 different types??

jeff: i took one off a 55 pontiac identical to the one in your photo. the no trough with thumb-nail cut-out is what i'd expect to see on a 56-57 corvette.mike

one in picture does not look like it has a tab. also, with the boss around the hole it could have tractor applications.

[Jeff A.]

Re: Ballast Resistor ID - 4 different types??

Pretty sure that these are all some type of auto application.
I pulled every one myself, and I never took one off a tractor.

But doesn't mean that the owner of the car did not switch before junking.