Electric Choke

[Ron R.]

Is It Safe To Attach The Red Wire To The Ballast Or Should I Go Directly To The Fuse Box?

Ron

[Stuart F.]

Re: Electric Choke

I believe the directions with mine said to not use the engine ignition circuit as a source for switched power. As such, and I believe they recommended, I attached mine to the ignition switched circuit of the windshield wiper motor. I merely located which wire to the WW motor was hot with the ignition switch ON and tapped into it. Others may have a different approach depending on the unit youy are using.

Stu Fox

[Ron R.]

Re: Electric Choke

Thanks Stuart,

[John D.]

Re: Electric Choke

Ron, You didn't say what the choke was for. I assume it's not FI because of the red wire.
Typical local of an electric choke wire is the 12V side of the BR. John

[Stuart F.]

Re: Electric Choke

It would be helpful to know what electric choke you are dealing with, i.e. OEM or aftermarket, F.I. or carbureted, etc. Mine is an aftermarket unit with thermal sensor mounted on the intake manifold. The directions explicitly state NOT to use the switched engine ignition circuit, be it at the coil or ballast resistor. Now that is the one I have and I'm sure they had their reasons (that surprised me too as I could understand if it were a 12v vs. 8v matter). Yours may be different, such as Edelbrock or others. For lack of no other specific instructions, I felt safer connecting it as I did at the WW motor 12v switched hot wire.

Stu Fox

[Ron R.]

Re: Electric Choke

Sorry for being so vague, the choke is for an Elderbrock carb, I believe the number is 1406, which is aftermarket.

[John H.]

Re: Electric Choke

Sorry for being so vague, the choke is for an Elderbrock carb, I believe the number is 1406, which is aftermarket.

Ron -

The Edelbrock instructions say not to use the coil or alternator as the power source:

http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/misc/tech_center/install/1000/1406.pdf

The ignition switch side of the ballast resistor is an ignition-switched 12V source, as is the "IGN" cavity in the fuse block.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Electric Choke

I believe the directions with mine said to not use the engine ignition circuit as a source for switched power. As such, and I believe they recommended, I attached mine to the ignition switched circuit of the windshield wiper motor. I merely located which wire to the WW motor was hot with the ignition switch ON and tapped into it. Others may have a different approach depending on the unit youy are using.

Stu Fox

they don't want you to use the coil + wire because it is not a full 12 volts except when cranking the engine and the choke will not open correctly

[Philip A.]

Re: Electric Choke

A lot of hot rodders tend to use the power supply to the wiper motor

[Ron R.]

Re: Electric Choke

How About If I Use The Hot Side On The Windshield Wiper Motor?

[Clem Z.]

Re: Electric Choke

How About If I Use The Hot Side On The Windshield Wiper Motor?

use your DVM and find a full 12 volt connection that is ignition controlled,ignition off zero volts,ignition on full 12 volts. the factory electric choke power went thru the oil pressure switch so no 12 volts till the engine started and you had oil pressure. this was done so if someone turn on the ignition and did not try and start the engine for a while the choke would still be closed when they started the engine

[Ron R.]

Re: Electric Choke

use your DVM and find a full 12 volt connection that is ignition controlled,ignition off zero volts,ignition on full 12 volts. the factory electric choke power went thru the oil pressure switch so no 12 volts till the engine started and you had oil pressure. this was done so if someone turn on the ignition and did not try and start the engine for a while the choke would still be closed when they started the engine

Hi Clem, I assume the DVM you refer to is a VOLT METER, am I correct?

Ron,

[Clem Z.]

Re: Electric Choke

Hi Clem, I assume the DVM you refer to is a VOLT METER, am I correct?

Ron,

yep Digital Volt Meter. i only type with 2 fingers so i keep it as short as possible.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Electric Choke

Clem;

When you refer to an oil pressure switch, I trust you are talking about some years newer than our C-2's, at least newer than my 63. I would love to have one, but I guess I have to make due with a gauge only.

Your advice on using a meter is good. One should always check a line, even if it is just with a continuity checker to make sure your source is switched. That's what I did when I read the directions as I never gave the WW motor a thought as a source before, and it is so close to where I have my thermo sensor mounted on the top of the intake manifold.

Stu Fox

[Clem Z.]

Re: Electric Choke

Clem;

When you refer to an oil pressure switch, I trust you are talking about some years newer than our C-2's, at least newer than my 63. I would love to have one, but I guess I have to make due with a gauge only.

Your advice on using a meter is good. One should always check a line, even if it is just with a continuity checker to make sure your source is switched. That's what I did when I read the directions as I never gave the WW motor a thought as a source before, and it is so close to where I have my thermo sensor mounted on the top of the intake manifold.

Stu Fox

when GM went to electric chokes they ran the power wire thru the oil pressure switch and if the switch went bad the choke did not work so they put in a "choke" light on the dash to inform the driver