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Technical 6 Volt?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by HOTRODPRIMER, Sep 16, 2019.

  1. I have seen a lot of threads asking about switching from 6 volt to 12 volt, are any of you guys still running 6 volt and are you satisfied with it? HRP
     
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  2. pkhammer
    Joined: Jan 28, 2012
    Posts: 812

    pkhammer
    Member

    6 volt positive ground on my model A and antique tractor. Works just fine as long as the ground is clean. These old machines turned over pretty easy because of the low compression ratios. When did most manufacturers go to 12 volt?
     
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  3. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

  4. Slopok
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,919

    Slopok
    Member

    1955
     
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  5. Los_Control
    Joined: Oct 7, 2016
    Posts: 1,125

    Los_Control
    Member
    from TX

    I do not really have a issue with 6 volt positive ground. I wake up at night wondering if 12 volt positive ground we would have a better world.

    At this point I am dealing with 6 volt positive ground ... I want to make my original radio work.
    Sometimes I just wonder if it would be easier to go 12 volt.
    We only have original once, depends what you want.
     
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  6. lothiandon1940 likes this.
  7. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    Most didn't change to 12 volt until 1956 models, most of which were introduced in late 1955.

    GM began the switch to 12 volt in I believe 1953 on some senior models and extended it to Chevy and Pontiac for 1955 models. Ford Motor Co, Chrysler Corp, Studebaker all waited until the '56 models.

    Ray
     
  8. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,917

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The best thing that has happened to the guys running 6 volts is the advent of the Optima battery. Some people may have experienced some problems with them, but I'm working on my third in my '51 Ford and it works just fine. The first one lasted 13 years, the second one 14 years, and I have 1 year on this one.

    There is a problem with accessories, but we are working on a solution for that. At the present time, I am running a backup camera, GPS, and a CD player in my '51 Ford with a prototype voltage booster. I think a lot of you know that we have already developed a device to run any 12 volt motor tach on 6 volts. The beauty of this is that the modern devices are very efficient and require a surprisingly little amount of current to run them. And they are surprisingly cheap.The stuff I am running takes about 1/2 amp at 12 volts, which requires about 1 amp at 6 volts. It is kind of inefficient, but when you consider that the stock radio requires a 14 amp fuse, it's reasonable enough. The reason we are still in prototype stage is that we are trying to increase the efficiency of the unit.
     
  9. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,629

    The37Kid
    Member

    I'd like someone to explain how 12 volts flow through smaller gage wire than a 6 volt system without a fire. Bob
     
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  10. Hemi Joel
    Joined: May 4, 2007
    Posts: 1,528

    Hemi Joel
    Member
    from Minnesota

    I've been driving my 49 Plymouth every summer since 1993, racking up over 40,000 miles. All with the original 6 volt system. Never had an issue or breakdown. I replaced the wire harness and battery cables back in 93, and I keep the generator oiled. THe lights are as bright as any 12 volt car I own. I wouldn't even consider switching it to 12 v.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    There's an equation, something about

    Power = Voltage X Current

    If you understand algebra, and understand that power is what the load is, then you'll see that by supplying twice the voltage to power a specific thing, it only draws half the current. And current is what burns up wires. So, using 12v to run a 6v system actually reduces the chance of burning stuff up.

    (this is a gross oversimplification, so don't beat on me too badly, those who know electricity well)
     
  12. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 6,917

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Think about water and a hose. If you apply a greater pressure (12 volts) on the water through a smaller hose, the volume out of the hose (watts) will be the same as a larger hose with less pressure (6 volts).
     
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  13. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,829

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    if I had a 6 volt car I'd run it until it broke then fix it with 12 volts.
     
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  14. Gary Addcox
    Joined: Aug 28, 2009
    Posts: 2,528

    Gary Addcox
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hey Squirrel, this is off subject, but do Alliance members get any discount when buying Classic Instruments gauges ?
     
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  15. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    I don't know, I'm not into marketing.
     
  16. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    :p
     
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  17. Steves46
    Joined: Sep 23, 2008
    Posts: 533

    Steves46
    Member
    from Florida

    I have been driving my 55 F100 for 9 years with no problems. Clean grounds, proper gauge wires, and 0 or 00 battery cables works wonders.
     
  18. Daron1965
    Joined: Apr 3, 2018
    Posts: 2

    Daron1965
    Member

    The 6 volt system in my 52 Chevy has never been a problem. Still run the original generator. Maintenance is the key in my opinion. I had to replace a few of the cloth insulated wires, from wear, but that's it.
     
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  19. 2935ford
    Joined: Jan 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,843

    2935ford
    Member

    Thinking about the same thing recently. I have acquired another stock Model A. Does everything it is suppose to do. 6 volt with a new battery. Fires right up and goes down the road nicely. Had it out for it's maiden run for me last weekend. Only issue, the rear main area is leaking pretty bad. Mind you, I don't baby these stock A's. 45 - 50mph for long periods. I guess I deserve what I get in the leak department.
    I'm thinking I leave it alone for now and enjoy it for what it is but 12 volt is always in the back of my mind! :).
     
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  20. SicSpeed
    Joined: Apr 23, 2014
    Posts: 656

    SicSpeed
    Member
    from Idaho

    My 9N works wonderful on the stock system. But both the 39 & 49 Fords have 12v generators for a safer more efficient electrical system IMG_3829.JPG


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  21. BigEd
    Joined: Aug 12, 2005
    Posts: 246

    BigEd
    Member

    I know that Model T guys like to run an 8 volt battery. Does that apply to other 6 volt systems?
     
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  22. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    Using a 8 volt battery is mostly a ‘patch’ for a poorly maintained 6 volt system. It creates a few potential problems ‘re the charging system. Proper wire/cable size and clean terminals usually will fix any problem to which the default solution was an 8 volt battery. And, the poorly maintained system may still be there.

    Ray
     
  23. Gary, Classic Gauges is a Alliance Vendor. HRP

    Classic Instruments – Nobody does a custom gauge like Classic Instruments… Nobody. That’s why we were so fired up to hear that they were joining the Alliance. What do we get? 10% off on any standard gauge packages, 10% off the design and production fees for custom design services (round, full sets only), and 10% off ($300 max) any retrofit projects you bring their way.
     
  24. Still 6v on my 55 fairlane. I dont have any added accessories like ac or anything, and it suits me just fine. I have recently switched over to a 6v alternator, it was cheaper than getting my generator rebuilt and charges a little better, so why not.
     
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  25. Boden
    Joined: Oct 10, 2018
    Posts: 747

    Boden

    Ford went 12v in 1956. The same year they switched from cloth wiring to rubber wiring.


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
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  26. I had a '66 VW that had 6 volt wiring (the last year) it worked well but the head lights were not seal beams, just bulb's.

    If I was driving at might and a car was following me I could see a shadow of my car in front of me because the lights were so dim,even on bright. :rolleyes: HRP
     
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  27. G-son
    Joined: Dec 19, 2012
    Posts: 1,277

    G-son
    Member
    from Sweden

    A friend of my dad had a 6V VW bug back in the day, and the lights were quite dim as you say. He got the suggestion to add relays fed straight from the battery to the headlight circuits (to get rid of the voltage loss through switches etc.). I suppose he wasn't quite convinced by the people saying how much better it could be, so he just added it for the low beam. The improvement was quite big, in fact so big he stopped using high beam - low beam was much brighter.

    There's nothing wrong with 6V systems, they just require fatter wires etc, and are more sensitive to all kinds of resistance in the circuits. It seems that good 6V bulbs just gets harder to find and for other accessories there may also be problems finding them, but if you have a good working 6V system there's no reason to convert it to 12V. On the other hand, if it isn't working correctly you need to start choosing between fixing that or replacing it.
     
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  28. Hell yeah! Been running 6 V on the 5 w for damn near 20 years & the 34 is also 6V & mech brakes. On the roadster I added a 3rd brake light from a blazer,(it is 12 V) & I bought a drok 6to 12 converter. Been 3rd brake 4.JPG working for 4 years.
     
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  29. The VW's went to 12 volt is 67. HRP
     
  30. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    Danny,

    Unless you had a European market VW, you had seal beams for headlights. They were mounted, recessed, in buckets with the glass cover lens and there was a small bulb down low in the base of the bucket that served as a parking lamp as I recall. The light on top of the fender was the directional signal.

    With the many detail changes in ‘67 models, the headlights were no longer in the glass covered buckets and, as you pointed out above, the vehicles finally got the 12 volt upgrade.

    In my early career days, I worked for VW for several years and have driven over 250,000 miles in VW’s.

    Ray
     
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