Hot Rods Damage from reversed polarity?

I have a friend with a 37 ford with the flathead V8. The battery has been installed with a negative ground rather than the factory positive ground configuration. His amp meter is naturally reversed. He says it is running and so is reluctant to change the polarity.

My question is: What harm would it possibly do to the electrical components of the car? I know the starter and light bulbs will function but what about the generator he just replaced, coil, voltage regulator, etc.?

Thanks,

 

not a problem, heater fan running backwards??? He should check his coil and assure it is wired to reflect the proper terminal going to ground. Usually has no effect on other things, but if the coil is backwards, under high load or high rpm it might breakdown a bit.

 

If he has a voltage regulator it will need to be polarized again.

 

the generator gets polarized not the regulator. I don't think he stated he was changing back.

 

Same answers that you got on the AACA site for the same question

 

Doesn't it just make sense to reverse the connections. However, if he's reluctant to change the orientation of the cables then there are more problems to come...

 

if the amp meter is moving it is charging so no need to polarize anything.

 

fan in the heater won't run backwards either and the starter is fine on reversed polarity too.

 

What was the point in reverse polarity?

 

Probably be ok if he doesn't have a radio. Should swap the leads on the coil for best spark. A coil will work "backwards" but not as well.

 

A negative ground battery can be used in a positive ground system. A battery can be reversed if needed. Hook a sealed beam to the battery and discharge it completely....then hook the battery charger to it with the polarity reversed and charge it up backwards.

 

One of the most ill advised posts that I've read in quite a while. Firstly, there is no such thing as a "negative ground battery". A battery is just a battery. It has no polarity. Why in the hell would anyone try to, purposely, charge a battery backwards???? Just switch the cables, coil leads and re polarize the generator and you're done

 

X2 on all Carl said, including the "ill advised" part, and that's being charitable!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hahahahahahahahaha,funniest shit I've read here lately....( 6 munce ago,I couldnt even spell mechanic,now I are one)

 

I just said it could be done....a helper of mine hooked a dead battery from his motorcycle up backwards and it charged up fine. Didn't work so well in his motorcycle. If it didn't matter then batteries wouldn't have a plus and minus sign next to the posts.

 

If batteries didn't have polarity they wouldn't mark them. It's true the battery doesn't care, but some of the other parts in the system do.
I don't know why anyone would do it on purpose, but it can be done.

 

Fine. Then what is the difference between a "negative ground" battery and a "positive ground" battery??? Rather that keeping anyone in suspense, the answer is, none, because the batteries do not have polarity. Polarity only comes into play when a circuit is made. I don't think you quite have a grasp of what the term actually means

 

I do....it just depends on the context. By itself a battery doesn't but if it's part of a system it does.
It's the same with electron flow....you can argue about which way it flows all day long.

 

Sir, all you need to do is reverse the connections, and if you have to, lift up the battery and turn it around to make the connections fit. There's no such thing as a negative or positive ground battery. It is the pole's connection to ground that makes the ground.
Looking for a positive ground battery is like looking for a left-handed screwdriver.

 

I agree....that's what I did on my positive ground tractor. I was just saying....if there is a need (which I've never found one) it can be done and that's how you do it.
And now it's permanently documented for generations to come in case someone ever finds a reason it needs to be done.....unless Ryan deletes it.

 

I suppose I could quote your original post, where you talked about negative ground batteries.
In a DC circuit, electrons flow from negative to positive. Learned that at welding school. DCEP or DCEN. I won't argue about it though because I'm correct

 

Yes...that's one theory.

 

It can be done, however for chemical reasons too complex to detail here, the battery will soon suffer and die from a short and degenerative death. It will essentially eat itself alive.

 

I believe TxTurbo (in regards to flow) is speaking of Conventional vs Electron flow, guess I was awake in class that day...

 

Reverse the coil and ammeter connections and roll with it.

 

I got to agree with this guy. btw from my understanding negative on The coil needs to be to ground. regardless. (keep in mind I'm a 65-year-old person that still very much learning.) just polarize the generator again. negative on coil to the ground on the battery. which what I've heard so far should be a positive ground.

 

Hey Txturbo...that electron flow?.unless its a queer electron.then all it will do is "blow" fuses

 

Please Mr Le Fong, take me to Kiek in de Kock. Ahhhhhhhhh, sweet relief.

 

I have seen a vehicle that runs both a 6 volt positive system, for the engine, and standard lighting, the 2 speed rear end, and a 12V negative system, for auxiliary lights, various radios, winches, the starter for the generator /welder, the starter for the heavy duty pump. Under the hood it has a generator for the 6V and alternator for the 12V and both battery ground straps go to the engine block, the cab and service body are grounded to the frame and all accessories whether 6 V positive or 12 V negative are grounded as they normally would be.

That, I am sure will blow a few head gaskets a people try to wrap their noggins around the concept.