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I find it -very- hard to believe that your radio shack has absolutely -0- diodes or full wave rectifiers in stock ( no counting zenir diodes ). Just about any of the diodes RS sells will work. If using the very small germanium and silicon models.. I'd parallel about 3 of them.. but then they come 10 to a pack. like a 1n914 .. etc. Any of the larger diodes that are rated for 1a or more should be fine. I've known many people that worked in radio shack over the years, including current employees. And have helpe dthem with stocking and inventory. Those discreet electrical components are 'forcefeed' and mandatory unit stock items. that is.. when they sell. 'x' items.. the 'x' items are automatically ordered and replenished. The only way the store could be out of all diodes is if someone walked in in the last week ( 1 wk between shipments ) abd bought the store out. Full wave bridges, full wave rectifiers, and bridge rectifiers will all work.. they are just 4 diodes potted together in a special arangement... As for the the other questions.. seems like they have been answered. "YES" a diode, suitable resistor, or suitable 'lamp' will all let oyu shut your ignition down due to adding some degree of isolation betweent he ignition and the alternator field backfeed power. A diode is the best.. it is a 1-way valve for electrons. ( cathode to the #1 terminal ) A 194 trailer marker or 'idiot' lamp is just an incandescent power resistor. If yousing power resistors.. i'd sugest something more like 5 ohms.. like 2 10ohm resistors in parallel. Reason for his is.. a 12v coil primary winding is usually in the neighborhood of 3 ohms... So you want to cut the voltage to the coil ( current thru primary ), down low enough so that you have goodreliable isolation... yet still have a few volts getting to the #1 terminal on the alternator to turn it on. Soundguy
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