Ignition Electrical Question....
Maybe I have it wrong.
But my I understand is if the key is in run but the engine is not rotating the coil will not be charging, like if the points are open.
No, not correct. Some electronic systems such as HEI do that--turn themselves off. But many draw coil current. The oddball systems Jeep used when they first went electronic drew current, and so do Mopar. I don't remember, were Jeep Motorola or Presolite?
Also, Pertronix draws current. I shut off my old Farmall after the carb runs dry, after turning off the fuel. Been about 5 times in the last 20 years, I've forgotten to turn off the key. The coil WILL be warm!!!
My cousin had a ?70's? Wagoneer, came into the store one day, wanted "another one of those black boxes." And asked me "do I have any idea why it keeps eating them?
I says, "I wasn't aware you had needed them?" and he replied, "I usually took it to Don Ba**** shop."
I says "are the kids leaving the key on playing the radio?"
And he gets this dumb look on his face, it turns out HE did not know the difference between "run" and "accessory."