OK, maybe this is a dumb question but how does the electric choke work?

I understand how the hot air style choke that my carb used to have works, but, I plugged the little vacuum port on the carb with JB Weld, and installed the electric choke from my original LG4's CC q-jet.

I see there is a blade terminal to hook power up to, but is that power supposed to be switched from a thermostat or what? If not then what is the voltage for and what does it do? There is still a coil spring inside that I am assuming is a bi-metal spring that changes with temp?

If some one could clue me in here that would be great.

 

The choke coil is a bimetallic spring that tightens when heated. Older choke systems used hot air or water to heat the coil, but electric chokes pass a current through the coil, which turns the coil into its own heater.

 

Hook up the choke tab to a 12v source when the ign. key is in the run pos. Do not use a gasket because the choke housing has to be grounded to compleat the circuit.

Auggie

 

Thanx, it all makes sense now. Basically the choke is applied for as long as it takes to heat up the coil with the 12Volt source applied to it when the engine is started.

I was pretty sure that the coil was bi-metallic, but I was confused about the 12Volts and how the coil heated up.

Thanx for the clarification.

I also did not use the gasket as suggested.

Would you guys suggest using the ignition wire to the distributor, or should I try to find another switched source for the 12Volts?

 

Well, I don't know what they are called but I buy a wire, fuse type gismo that plugs into the fuse block under the dash on the drivers side. I think its called "Add a circuit". Can anyone else help here?

Auggie

 

If your car was originally carbed, you can (probably should) use the factory choke wire.

Some people say you shouldn't use the distributor ignition wire to power the choke, but I don't remember why.

 

I don't know why didn't I think of that, the choke is actually the one that came from the old CC carb too.