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| | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | Sometime ago we had a good discussion about 8 volt batteries but I can't seem to find it....which is no surprise.
So, my question is two fold.
1. will an 8 volt battery mess up the 6volt guages? ....or bulbs.
2. Is there a real advantage to 8
volts vs 6 volts?
Educate me.....again!! | | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 940 | I just replaced the 8v battery that was in my 51 1/2T when I got it with a 6v from Autozone. I've been told the 8v only makes it start faster and long term may cause a bit more wear on the bulbs and such.
I haven't noticed any difference with the 6v battery. Still starts on the first stomp and the lights appear just as bright, tho thats a new 6v vs an 8v that could be a decade or so old. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,777 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,777 | Did you re-adjust the voltage regulator when you switched back to the 6V? You might be putting somewhere in the range of 9.5 volts into the 6V battery, depending on whether it was set up properly to charge the 8V battery originally.
Yes, if a charging system is set up right when the 8V is installed, it will shorten the lifespan of light bulbs and ignition points somewhat.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | In short, I wouldn't mess with an 8v battery in a system like this. I think they were popular on the farm in the tractors with 6v and not a whole bunch more electrical than the starting circuit.
I don't know what your wanting to start Alvin, but as we've discussed a 'hunert times on here, good clean joints, a good switch, good brushs and commutator, no unusual binding and there is no reason a 6volt system won't start you 6 popper.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | I'm just "scratching for info". I agree with you Denny and what I "thought" years ago vs what I "KNOW" now are worlds apart. I needed some refreshing and you guys are giving it to me. Thanks. EDIT: actually this is a subject I'm trying to be of help to another truck guy. I just could not remember all the "ins and outs" and didn't want to lie to the guy  and its been so long since I actually ran the 8 Volt I had to turn to where the Knowledge is!!
Last edited by Achipmunk; 10/14/2011 1:48 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | Aha,dint thing you were thinking about an 8 volter or one of your rides. Lieing and BS'ing are two different animals Alvin. Ya lie when you want to get the upper hand in a situation, and ya BS when ya just want to impress someone in to thinking you know what you're talkin' about. Heck, when it comes to BS'ing I do it all the time, haven't you noticed?
Back to the 8v thing, my '54 had one in it when I drove it home last fall. No doubt put in by the last guy that had it for a few months, it's now a DC power supply down at the radio bench. I'm not doing much on the '54 because I've been focusing on the '50 lately. But from what little digging I have done on it, I could tell there were a whole bunch of bandaids applied in an attempt to make her road worthy. The 8v deal was just one of them and it's out of the picture now. Along with the starter, generator/regulator and light switch having been rebuilt, some of the maintainance has been done to the rest of the electrical system to bring the 6v system back up to par.
DG
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 124 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 124 | Yep 8-volt will mess things up. 8-volts is in reality treating the symptoms and not fixing the problem. If the 6-volt charging system cannot keep the 6-volt battery fully charged how can we expect it to keep an 8-volt battery that needs 9.5 volts from the charging system....fully charged.
What needs to happen is you need to fix the 6-volt charging system so it will charge about 7-7.5 volts and that will keep your 6-volt battery up in good shape, your lights will be bright and your truck will start much better...The 8-volt battery will work good when you first install it until the voltage drops below 6 volts or whatever output it can get from the charging system then you will be back where your started. The biggest problems with 6-volt batteries is there is seldom 6-volts in the battery. With 5.0 to 5.5 which is common you cannot expect the starter to turn the engine over and the ignition to provide a bright blue spark on low voltage. It works out far better to get your 6-volt system up in shape....thanks Randy | | |
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