Re: 6V alternators and 8V batteries

Posted by John Regan on July 29, 1998 at 17:54:27

In Reply to: Re: 6V alternators and 8V batteries
posted by Bob Johnson on July 23, 1998 at 18:02:37

Fred
An 8V battery is not simply undercharged to a state like a 6v battery when used with a 6v alternator.Since the 8v battery has 4 cells while the 6v battery has 3, the 8v battery will be dead and have WAY LESS cranking power than a fully charged 6V battery.Your batteries are failing because they are not being kept up to proper charge and that is death to lead acid batteries.Give serious thought to going to 6V but if you must stay with 8 then we do make a voltage regulator for 8V but it works with the original 3 brush generator so you would need to go back to that.It would properly charge your 8V battery by putting out 9.1 volts.I am not encouraging you to stay with 8V but just telling you what is available.We make 6,8, and 12v version of all of our regulators and it is the voltage regulator in the alternator that is really the thing that is keeping the battery in good charge.If no current controlled the alternator can put out enough current to burn up your wiring.If current controlled to about 20 amps then it no longer has any advantage over the original generator.I personally feel that an alternator on a Model A is like a Chevrolet V8 on your lawn mower.It won't cut grass any faster.
Good luck.
6, 8, and 12 volt Model A voltage regulators

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