The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 'New' truck first step?

The mutt is a 195? 1 ton dump truck with 1952 3/4 ton cab and 1954 235 engine. I got it to run for the first time a few days ago, using the provided partial 12 volt system.

What it came with is a 12 volt battery, with no charging system, a ballast resistor, and an ignition switch that works as expected for a truck with electric, rather than manual, solenoid.

How can I tell what the existing wiring is set up for? (6 volt or 12 volt) Keep in mind that the existing wiring is not connected to the battery, except as mentioned above.

I suspect that the existing wiring is the old six volt system, and am considering sticking with 6 volt. I guess the voltage regulator is my major concern. If I stick in a 6 volt generator, and the regulator is 12 volt, what will happen?

How about if I just go ahead and replace the regulator with one that I know is six volt. Seems to me that would have the smallest possibility of doing harm.

Any suggestions? I know others have gone through this. What worked for you?

starkweatherr,


The old, 6 volt physical wiring would be technically "twice" the required gauge for any 12 volt device, so if it's in good shape, it would certainly work for any 12 volt future plans.

If you stick in a 6 volt generator, you will need the corresponding regulator. Using the 12 volt version won't allow the system to charge.

I'm not clear on what you actually want to do with this truck. The options would be to go with the stock 6 volt system, which would include generator, regulator, gauges lamps and battery.

To swap to 12 volts, you would have to change to a 12 volt generator, regulator, battery, lamps and voltage reducer in front of any small motor or gauge that couldn't conveniently be changed to the higher voltage.

If you do the 12 volt swap, and you are not a purist, the alternator route is a good way to go.

You can utilize all the existing wiring if it is in OK condition. Some small changes would have to be made, but not a complete R&R by any means.

Does this mini-novel help answer your question?

Stuart

Thanks, Stuart. That's pretty much what I thought.

One of my problems right now is money. I need six new wheels and tires. I also need to keep the truck in 'rolling' condition, because it is in the back yard.

Right now it starts and runs, and moves, but it has no real fuel system, or charging system.

I would eventually like to do a complete re-wire, using a kit, because of the deteriorated condition of the insulation on the existing wiring, but that is at least a year off.

Parts availability may also be an issue. Yesterday I decided to go the simplest possible way, and order a 6 volt generator and voltage regulator, but the only truly local auto parts store doesn't have books that go back far enough.

Interestingly enough, I was thrilled to see that it had an alternator the first time I opened the hood . . . until I noticed that the alternator didn't have any wiring connected to it. It appears that it was only used to tension the fan belt.

It's really not that difficult to re-wire a vehicle, especially if you dont "need" all the original gages ect...

If your alternator is a "one wire", then it is even easier.. no need for an external regulator.

Have fun.

starkweatherr,

It sure sounds like you are only a few wires away from a fully functional 12 volt system. If the alternator is internally regulated, you are even closer to success.

If you change back to the 6 volt system, you are looking at a generator, regulator, battery, coil and maybe even lamps. Basically, your rig has already been switched to 12 volts...wouldn't you agree.

Stuart

I'm not so sure that it was converted. As I said, the alternator wasn't wired at all, and I'm not sure that it works. There is a voltage regulator, but I'm not sure what voltage.

I already have a 6 volt battery that I bought for my 4400, but that truck is starting to turn into a 'hanger queen'.

I went ahead an ordered a 6 volt single wire alternator for it (because it cost $60 less than any of the alternatives.) I guess I will need to run one wire to the battery, but I suspect that I will need to run another one either to the fuse block or the regulator?

starkweatherr,

Hopefully, instructions will come with your new 6 volt alternator. It is a single wire unit, so that's all you will need...a single wire! You won't use the voltage regulator anymore, but if the truck has a functioning ammeter that you want to utilize, you can tie the BATT output of the alternator to the BATT wire on the old regulator, then wrap the remaining wire up, remove the regulator and you're done.

Your previous comments about the coil, ballast resistor and battery lead me to believe that this rig was almost already converted. If this is true, you are going to have to change all this stuff back to 6 volt components. How about the headlights and other misc lamps...they will be very dim on 6 volts if they had been swapped to 12 volts.

Read your 'new alternator' instructions and keep us posted on the outcome.

When you are dinking with the regulator, take a look at how many terminals it has. If it has four terminals, it was installed along with the alternator and wasn't a relic left over from the generator era.

Stuart

Fortunately, everything here is win/win, thanks to the 4400, which is definitely 6 volt.

I got the 6 Volt alternator today, and was thrilled, until I read your message. The voltage regulator has three terminals and says something like 'Echelin 110' on the cover.

I also realized that the 4400 has had a six volt generator hiding in it for the last few months, and there is a place in town that advertises that they can re-build it.

It kind of looks like one will end up as a six volt system, and the other . . . 12.