Alternator vs. Generator

I'm the originator of this post and thanks for asking the question for the curious, I have a 6 volt, positive ground system with my alternator and the ignition system is the orginal type. So at least most of the electrical system is kind of original. Also turn signals are on my pretty 31 standard coupe, she has cowl lights which I understand only came on the deluxe. She has hydraulic brakes which you all have told me are not any better than mechanical...in fact, I can't even lock them up on pavement if I had to! But she has nice paint. Unfortunately, she's laid up right now until I figure out why she won't idle and rev-up right. Hopefully I'll have her out and about daily again by next week.
 
There are reasons I might use an alternator,headlights isn't one of them.50 CP is 50 CP no matter if it is 6 or 12 volt.I think most people wind up with what they consider brighter lights because they get higher candlepower bulbs than what they had.I worked on a truck a few years ago that had blinding white lights.He had bought a kit with chrome reflectors,halogen bulbs(high draw that ran hot)and an alternator to run them.He brought it to me because he had two big shining discs that threw no light.They were worse than his original yellow reflectored lights.I did get them to shine OK,but not all that well.When the alternator quit I put his generator back on,used a pair of bulbs from the Little British car company,and he had the original reflectors aluminized.That was the end of his problems.Years ago I drove my A all night many times with a small discharge.6,8 hours of riding around never seemed to run it down enough to the point it wouldn't start.When I hear people complain that their alternator won't charge right off on start up I say,so what? Don't worry about it.Some say they don't want to rev their cold engine to make it energize.I don't blame them,don't rev it.It will start to charge when you drive off.You can drive that car 8 hours at a small discharge,what's 5 minutes?I would use an alternator if I wanted to use electronic ignition,although with the EVR's out now the generator may work fine.I don't know about that though.If I wanted to run air I would use one,and the only reason I may use one in one of my own cars is I love my satellite radio.That is very fussy about voltage spikes.I cooked one in a Volvo PV544 with a generator.Next week I have to convert a Ford 600 tractor to a 12 volt system with an alternator.His 6 volt system is perfect.It has been since 1958.A vendor talked him into how much better it is.His whole problem is that the battery slid sideways when the holder rusted,and shorted the terminal against the hood.I slid the battery back,jumped it,and it is still charging fine.He has already ordered the kit,and next week I get to install it.In his case it may be a good idea,somebody is always leaving the key on and running the battery down.They are in no way mechanics,and I will feel a lot better about his daughter starting a neg ground 12 volt tractor with a jumper box than her jumping a pos ground 6 volt system with that 12 volt box.
 
ldj1002 said:
Alternator or generator is for each his own for what ever reason. BUT the above quote??? why even have a Model A when much more reliable things available. Just a thought.
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I have to agree with that one.

Henry and everyone else would have used alternators if high current solid state diodes were available then, but they were not available until the early 1960s. I don't think even selenium rectifiers became popular until the 1950s and they were not high current for the size.

However if you want modern technology then why have an "A"?
 
Mike V. Florida said:
Let me see if I got this straight. You're saying a generator will not fully charge a battery?

If I put in an alt my lights will become better and my horn will sound better?

Some how an alt will make a starter crank better?

What do you base this on?

Leave the Alt on, or change it to a generator, I still hold that it will make no difference in how your Model A will operate.
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After this, I will hush on this subject!!
To me, the most important thing is that with an alternator my battery will always be fully charged, never undercharged, and never overcharged and BOILING!
 
Well fellas, I have to agree with Louis from GA. You got a nice looking car, so enjoy it. If folks pull up and ask about it, they usually want to know "HOW FAST DOES IT GO ANYWAY.":D Another question my wife and I get is, "Did you buy it new?" They love the ol' Model A's regardless. Then if you've got the Ahooga Horn tuned in right, well, that sets 'em right over the top. :)

I recall seeing all these old timers back in the day and lots of them had BWs. Then came the advent of the WW phenomenon and everybody wanted them, extra thin, real wide, in between and even colors other than white. It went on for a long time. When it went sour was when the automotive manufacturers decided it was costing too much to put them on. Like having Two Tone paint jobs. Cost was too much. so they pushed AND actually Marketed the idea that WWs were tacky. Of course the buying public bought on to the idea and WWs were out.

Thus Black Walls on everything, PLUS raised White letters. WOW. What's next, I think maybe shiny Metal or alloy tires?

I remember the squeaky brake syndrome with Model A's. Back during WW2, I was a little kid in the Ozarks and my Grandpa could be heard coming down the mountains from miles away because he didn't think it was all that necessary to replace those brake linings for a fella who drove slow...................................................:p I also am one who likes your car the way it is. "JUST DON'T OPEN THE HOOD!" How many folks do you know who go around opening their hoods anyway....HUH?

You know it's kinda like these little Funny Faces. I like 'em. Some don't.....:rolleyes:
 
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If you are all hung up on what other people say when looking inside, and you still want an alternator for whatever reason, just get the kind that are stuffed inside a Model A generator case. Then you can have it your way. Looks original, but ain't.
 
Its this simple !! Do you want a Model "A" ?? or a Modern car ?? If you modify the Model "A", That is what you have, a modern motified model a... And that goes for "ALL" the other changes made..
 
Say there Bill Williamson, I got your back sir, (as they say these days) LOL...:p

Seriously, I love these debates, you can truly learn a lot.
 
I really don't have anything against using an alternator.I do have something against vendors that tell folks they HAVE to have it in a stock A or they will be dead on the side of the road.If I bought a car with a working alternator on it I wouldn't spend 50 cents to change it over until it broke.I've never had troubles with the generator overcharging,undercharging,any of that.I set it for it's needs and don't ignore it.I have had the cutouts stick before and run the battery down,but that was the extent of it.I've seen a lot more alternator fires than generator fires,but that is because I see a lot more alternators.There is a farm in town that has a burned up Bobcat they want rebuilt.I looked it over and noticed the alternator was melted.The rest of the machine didn't really burn,it just smoldered from the oils and sawdust in its belly.When pricing the wiring harness the parts guy said,what happened,alternator short? Common problem on these machines with the Kubota engines. I have a Bobcat excavator with the same engine,that one went up in smoke at less than 2000 hours.I was running it and just cut the wire and kept working.I was having thoughts about using that alternator on something like an A,it puts out good power and the engine only turns 2100 wide open.I do a lot of conversions on old equipment simply because parts are not available for some things,and sometimes because of cost.When the parts and regulator for an old Cat is going to run nearly $700.it gets a new $250.24 volt alternator.
 
More noise from the cheap seats...

When I got my first Model A, almost 2 years ago, it came with a converted 6-volt / positive ground Delcotron alternator , 35 amp, I believe.

It works, so I've left it alone. Had it apart a few weeks ago just to check bearings and lube them.

This is the first antique vehicle I've owned that has been "upgraded" to an alternator...

All the others I have (mostly MoPars, between 1940 & 1960, and Chevy / GMC trucks between 1940 and 1955), have generators, and they work fine too.

I've been driving old-iron ( vehicles 25 years and older) since I got my license over 25 years ago (yeah, I'm kind of a young pup...), and I really didn't have any more electrical troubles from alternator-equipped cars over generator equipped.

My experience has been that when the original equipment is set-up right and maintained, it works.

If and when I run across a correct Ford generator and cut-out at an attractive price, I will probably grab them and install them on my car.

In the meantime, I have at least painted the Delcotron low-gloss black, so it doesn't "scream" quite as much.... ;)
 
Everybody makes changes to their cars. Since you put a new set of tires on your car, is it now "modified" since you've changed from the original tires that were on it. If you go with the $15 rubber stem tubes because you don't feel like paying for the way more expensive metal stem tubes, is your car now a "modified" car? The average person isn't going to realize that you have an alternator verses a generator. Since it works, don't change it.
 
Jason in TX said:
...or they add modern accessories like A/C and radios.
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By radio do you mean a CB? In our car club I think everyone has a CB radio for communication with each other and safety. Some people buy the inverters so they can use them with their 6v system. I personally have a 12v tractor battery on the floor of the rumble seat which I hook the CB to. People never even know it's there! :D
 
CarlG said:
If you are all hung up on what other people say when looking inside, and you still want an alternator for whatever reason, just get the kind that are stuffed inside a Model A generator case. Then you can have it your way. Looks original, but ain't.
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LOL, have you seen prices on those? They are close to $1k
 
Louis said:
newshirt,

IMHO, Their is no such thing as a org. "A" model left, All we can do is get as close as we can.

I've never seen an "A" model I diden't like, I don't care if it has a gen. or a alt.
If it look's like an "A" model , sounds like an "A" model, and drives like an "A" model...it's probley an "A" model. I like um all. ;)
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I have to go with Louis on this one, but with a little different twist.

I believe that it is ok to draw a line in the sand somewhere and follow your personal preferences.

What I mean by that is even a purist can find it reasonable to alter your model A to bring it up to grade in the safety department. Some go for seatbelts, turn signals and upgraded brakes.

There are other modifications that you might not opt for such as some of the changes for touring, like overdrives, air-conditioning, improved lighting, etc.

There is a place for everyone at every level of alteration, from completely stock, to minor improvements, to what I consider the outside limit, which is lots of improvements but it still looks and sounds like a Model A.

I think that a stock car is a thing of beauty but I’m also a realest and understand the urge to improve by alteration.

Completely stock cars have traveled successfully for years and so it certainly can be done, but there is no reason to abstain from true improvement.


I would just make sure what you're doing actually does improve your Model A and the end result is what you bargained for, not just a trade-off from one problem for another.
 
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For me, part of the fun of owning a Model “A” is showing someone how it works. In a modern car you just get in, turn the key and take off, but in a Model “A” you:

Turn on gas
Retard spark lever
Adjust throttle lever
Turn Carburetor Adjusting Rod
Put gear shifter into neutral
Turn the key
Pull on the choke
Press on the floor starter button.
After one turn of the engine, release the choke.
As Soon As It Starts
Advance Spark Lever
Close the Carburetor Adjusting Rod to ¼ turn open.
Push in clutch
Put it in gear
Release parking brake
Press accelerator


And before you do all the above you: check the oil, water and adjust your generator brushes to summer/winter driving and day/night driving. Many non-mechanical people get engine oil on their nose watching how I prepare my “A” for a daily drive.
 
30ccpickup said:
For me, part of the fun of owning a Model “A” is showing someone how it works. In a modern car you just get in, turn the key and take off, but in a Model “A” you:

Turn on gas
Retard spark lever
Adjust throttle lever
Turn Carburetor Adjusting Rod
Put gear shifter into neutral
Turn the key
Pull on the choke
Press on the floor starter button.
After one turn of the engine, release the choke.
As Soon As It Starts
Advance Spark Lever
Close the Carburetor Adjusting Rod to ¼ turn open.
Push in clutch
Put it in gear
Release parking brake
Press accelerator


And before you do all the above you: check the oil, water and adjust your generator brushes to summer/winter driving and day/night driving. Many non-mechanical people get engine oil on their nose watching how I prepare my “A” for a daily drive.
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Or, if you don't wish to overcomplicate it you.

1. richen fuel mixture slightly and turn on key.
2. retard spark fully
3. pull choke out.
4. step on clutch and step on starter while letting go of choke.
5. adjust fuel mixture and timing by taste.
Eh, for me 5 steps is enough. ;)

I do not shut the fuel off every time I get out if the "A" is going to be driven a lot. I also don't put it in neutral to start it. You also don't really need to adjust the generator, and you certainly don't have to if you use Tom's EVR.
 
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