The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 12volt conv.

I want to switch my truck from 6v to 12 v and have the generator and regulator. my generator(6v) currently has the cutout. My question is; one wire goes from the field of the gen. to which post on the reg. and one from the arm. to which post on the reg and then one from the batt. term to the ammeter guage? Also do I need to use a voltage reducer to the fuel Gauge? Thanks for your help....Richard

We need a little more information- - - - -are you replacing a 3-brush generator with nothing but a cutout relay, or does your current system use a 3-unit regulator with the cutout relay, current regulator, and voltage regulator coils? What year is the truck? If it's got a 3-unit setup, simply replace the 6 volt generator and regulator with 12 volt units, using the same wiring connections. You'll need to install a voltage-dropping resistor on the fuel gauge, and also install a 12-volt ignition coil and reduce the running voltage on the coil to 9 volts with a resistor, and install a resistor bypass system for reliable starting. Swap out all the light bulbs for 12 volt items, and if you've got turn signals, you'll need a 12 volt flasher unit. If you've got a 3-brush generator, you'll need to do a complete rewire of the charging system, using a later-model wiring diagram.
Jerry

Thanks for the reply Jerry; My truck is a 1936 pickup W/ a cutout; (no Reg.) on the generator,so I will need to add a regulator. My intentions are to install the Petronix ignition system w/ the high voltage coil. ( By the way) Do you have a Lincoln? What yr? My Brother owns a 1949 baby Lincoln w/ a 500Cu.Caddy motor), getting ready to sell it.....Richard

I drove an 85 Town Car for a while, but Hotrod Lincoln and Thunder Road are my favorite Karaoke tunes.

I'd suggest finding a mid-1950's Stovebolt wiring diagram and following the generator/regulator hookup wiring. It's relatively simple, probably 5 or 6 wires total. Be sure to use at least #12 wire from the generator armature to the regulator, and from the regulator Battery terminal to the back of the ammeter. #10 would be better, although that's a bit of overkill on amperage capacity. Field wire and ground wire to the regulator can be #16 or so since they don't carry much current.
Jerry

if your installing a 2 brush 12v gen and reg in place of your 6v 3 brush with cutout.. Gen F ->Reg Fld, Gen Arm ->Reg Gen, Reg Bat->Amp gauge wire. So you will have 2 wires between Gen and Reg and One from Reg to Amps gauge. Remember to Polarize your Generator once installed and battery connected, to do this use a screwdriver and momentarly jump between BAT and GEN at the regulator the terminals should be adjacent to eachother. REGULATOR BASE MUST BE GROUNDED, Clean mounting surface.