1946 Dodge pickup truck w/flat head 6 cyl, 6V positive ground.
Installed 8V battery and want to adjust Voltage Regulator to 9.6V to keep battery charged.

Can someone explain simplest way to adjust regulator? Have voltage meter....other tools needed?
Thanks!
Chris in Houston

Chris; It's been so many years, I'm not completely certain, but I think that you can adjust the regulator. You'll have to remove the cover, of course. If my memory serves, there are phillips head screws that you turn while watching the voltage. But....I'm not real sure that you want to increase it to 8V. Back in the day, it was pretty common to put 8V batteries in 6V systems to aid in starting, but I don't recall increasing regulator voltage. I'd be concerned about damaging guages, blowing bulbs, ect. I suppose that as long as you keep the voltage under 7V, it would probably be okay, but I'm not an electrician. Good luck.
Loren
SW WA

I've decided not to adjust up voltage, given the various warnings you and others state. Instead, I've ordered a 6V Optima battery and cleaned all electric connections (cables, etc...). Hopefully this will provide good starting and will stay charged.

Thanks for your reply.

Chris; I think that's a good decision. You could stay with the 8V battery, but I'm sure with the technology today, the 6V Optima will probably provide more cranking amps than any 8V you find. Good luck.
Loren
SW WA

Just poking my nose in this thread!


I have a 6v vehicle and the normal cranking speed is alarmingly slow once used to about any 12v system. Requires good tune and the best cable quality (gauge of good copper when available now) for best amp transfer.

It's striking how fast the thing turns when jump started with a 12v system which I've had to as it's the only 6 volter around which works fine but DON'T USE ANY LIGHTS OR OTHER ELECTRICAL ITEMS FOR THE QUICK SHOT!

This 8v replacement is new to me but I like the idea and agree with Loren about not overdoing the regulator. Bet if you just watch operating voltage it will be fine as is.

It does make me wonder what you'd use if using a charger?? I'd default to charging with a 6v charger as needed I think unless corrected,

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

Tom; I didn't even know they were still available. Was a pretty common 'trick' back in the late '50s to mid '60s.
Had four cells, as you'd imagine.
Loren
SW WA

Just got my first "FLOATING" 6v charger! Does both 6+12v and floats with either - only one I've ever seen. Others auto shut down for 12v and just stay on for 6v that I have. It's a low amp "Maintainer" now on all the stuff I don't use often and the batteries are loving it! Just $19 bucks at Wally World and comes with thingies so you can just stick them in cig lighters, clip to battery or make permanant quick connects.

It's a Schumacher model SEM 6V*12V, 1.5 amp fully automatic maintainer with float mode - monitoring - shows red (you flicked up the connection) amber = charging, and green LED light means done and on standby. Just open a door on a car and it fills just that tad used for light right back up! CCOOOOOLLL!! No 8V setting though??

T
There's the little pup - mine has different connectors??
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

So, just what 'little thingies' does it come with? That will fit into the cig lighter? No 8V setting? Geeeez. Take it back, dude!!!
btw, I woke up to a dead battery in my truck this morning. Can I borrow your new charger?
Loren
SW WA

They come with different connectors I guess depending on where you got it. One male/female plug goes to either clips, cig lighter/power port or to permanantly mounted "O" ring ends to leave on battery clamps! I own FOUR of the dang things already!

I put in on an old battery and took a week but damn thing seemed to restore that battery (8 year older!) just to start a generator so I put used batteries on that thing and new ones in the cars.....

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

>>I own FOUR of the dang things already! <<

Well, a guy can't own too many battery chargers!
Loren
SW WA

hey chris, it has ran for over 63 years now, ther is very less chance of getting it. you must try some ware in car junkyard.
(edit - hyperlinks not allowed, TomG)

(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Mar 2, 2009, 12:31 AM)

 

That message was a little cryptic.... question: I charged my Optima 6V battery upon arrival, and the battery charger amps would not drop below 3.5 amps even after 12 hours +. I expected it to go to > 1 amp by then. You think the battery is bad? Lights seem real dim, horn weak, starter slow. Engine not operable currently (carb being rebuilt), so could not see how/if it started. Battery voltage is 6.3v.

Chris - Sorry about the confusion - some spam in there trying to sell limo rides that should have just been removed. Loren - just remove that if you wish.

BACK: First this was about adjusting a regulator for upping a system to 8v on an OE 6v system - right?

OK: Now it seems there's a new 6v "Optima" battery that some type of charger won't stop charging (not all will shut off - aka 'float') when finished and just keep burning battery with juice.

This new battery shows 6.3 which is fine and now when hooked up lights are dim, horn weak + starter slow? What voltage drop was noted if you took that observation while trying to operate items? It had to have dropped severely for those results. Perhaps that battery isn't any good - how old is it? They are marked. Was it shipped to you charged, a gel cell or did you need to fill it? Just need to clarify what you are dealing with for this Optima 6v battery.

What happened to the 8V idea?

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

Tom,
I was the original poster. I had carb rebuilt, did a major tune up and timed it. Now, starts like a champ! Runs like a top. And that's using 6V battery. Still have the suspicious Optima in it, but it starts even tho lights seem dim. Plan to replace with new Optima I ordered. We'll see.

nevertheless, no more thinking about 12v conversion. 6 volts seems fine now that I've tuned and carb'd it.
Chris
46 Dodge (w/55 Plymoth 230 CID flat 6)

Chris,

Just some ramblings on this now: They didn't design the car to run lousy even with the 6v pos ground set up as new. It just became a nightmare that all vehicles weren't done one way which was a needed change. Imagine the headaches if household power was different house to house, state to state and so on. Never mind the world isn't all the same even now with power but should be with vehicles.

Also know that incandescent bulbs will fade fairly fast over time of use not so much age of bulbs. My only 6v has a sealed beam headlight for a back light that is newer and is brighter than the headlights that are ancient now. Virtually everything needs beefier gauge wiring and better contacts than higher voltage. Wire itself was only copper not all that long ago and mixes of aluminum and other lighter, cheaper metals are in use now and don't always stay as well as the copper did as far as delivering the amps.

Are your lights that are dim sealed beams or replaceable smaller bulbs? Are they the right ones? Many 12v bulbs will still fit and be dim as all get out. Test for voltage right at the dim bulb and if it's the same as the battery or very close it's a connection at the bulb or the bulb itself.

Of interest: Some portable camping lights are 6v still with replaceable automotive type bulbs!

You can get one 6v square dry cell with the spring tops and use for portable tests till it dies.

Use a dang floating charger like the one earlier posted. It shut off entirely when done so battery is always peak and ready for start and batteries kept fully charged plain last longer.

One more: You may find higher quality little wiring items from Marine and RV parts places. Marine especially will have high tolerance for corrosion and either should be designing wire and wiring things for more severe use, vibrations etc.

Keep at it and enjoy the thing,

Tom

(edited in a pic of a 46 Dodge PU which I should have done way back and changed subject line)
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston












(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Mar 28, 2009, 5:34 AM)