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Classic/Antique Car Repair/resistor and ni-cad wire

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Expert: - 11/15/2010


Question
what is a resistor wire and what is a ni-cad wire. and do i need them in the circuit.

Answer
I assume that you are talking about the resistor wire in the ignition circuit. Yes, if the engineer put it in there when the car was built, you need it. What the resistor does is to lower and regulate the current going to the ignition points or electronic components. With out the resistor the voltage changes in the system  when the generator or alternator are charging full could and will burn out the points or could damage the electronic components. Ni Cad is a nickle cadnium wire that can be produced to provide a very precise resistance and yet last a long time.

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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