Searching for 12v switched power after ditching ballast and installing aftermarket electronic ignition

he bypass circuit SHOULD NOT feed from the start circuit. That is because, when in "park" or "neutral" on on a stick car, when depressing the clutch, (grounding the start relay) the coil cicuit of the "start" relay is being backfed/ powered by the coil end of the ballast resistor. This not only puts a load on the ballast and reduces coil power, but in some cases with a "sensitive" start relay, this backfeed MIGHT actually engage the starter!!

That is exactly why in my previous post I spoke of ways to imitate the bypass circuit--with another relay, with the newer Jeep starter relay, or with a series diode off the "start" line.



You can actually make a table of the ignition switch yourself easily. Do not get too hung on colors as they may have changed. There is only so much that can possibly come and go from the switch.

1...Turn the switch to ACC. Probe the switch wires and determine what is continuous. A will be feed from the battery and B will be source for accessories.

Even if this is a "mystery" switch, it's easy

2...Next you have to differentiate between A and B. Which is the batt and which is the ACC, you have two colors now identified, but which is which.


Take A, and probe all of the others while holding the switch to "start." If no result, then A is "accessory." Double check by connecting "B" to the meter and re probe. There will be one or two that connect with B. So, B whatever color, is the batt feed, the other two are the start and the bypass.

3...Set switch to "run." If correct, B will now be again continuous with "A" "accessory" and also continous with the "run" wire.

4.... Last, which one of the two you ID'd in the "start" test are actually "start" and "bypass?" The fact is it does not matter. Both are ONLY continuous in "start" and they feed from separate, isolated contacts.

Any smaller wires coming from the connector are such things as horn (small black) column mount shift quadrant, "key in" lighting or "key in" activated switch, etc.
All I know is that the car was running with the wiring this way. I only took out the harness to go through it, and figure out finding switched 12v power. Those tests I could definitely run once I get the harness and battery back in the car, as well as the engine/trans (hopefully this weekend)
It seems IGN 2 begins at the starter relay. This is similar to how starter solenoids were set up on Jeeps to later 1980. When the relay trips, the ignition feed is connected to the power at the relay. When the key is released from start to run, the regular ignition feed connect to power through the key switch.
That's how it appears, but without the manual its a guess
Bishko has been a big retailer of new and used service manuals etc. Try them.
I just ordered this 76 electrical manual off ebay because it was local and I thought, hell 77 and 76 must be practically the same...DOHHH lol
What I'm saying is that it sounds like the start wire from the igntion switch controls the relay
When the relay closes, power goes from the battery feed on the relay to the starter solenoid and to the ignition start wire.
View attachment 1716258847


View attachment 1716258848 Up through '76 for A-bodies, the relay does not have the BAL terminal. The EGR was connected to the SOL terminal so functionally that's the same.
Yes, I am very aware that 76 and 77 had difference starter relays, hence why I thought maybe the relay could start IGN2 circuit
Damn man, I searched high and low for a 77 diagram like this, and you found one! Thank you! So J3 as I have been saying on my 77 starts at the starter relay....Now I wish I had the diagram it mentions on page 5 of that manual.

Based on this image though, can I connect J3 (brown wire coming from starter relay) to J2 (Blue wire on other side of ballast coming directly from the ignition switch) and get the effect I am after- a switched 12v, both in run and start, to supply a small power source (My little fuse block)?