Battery Question,,

Jerry Parr WI said:
The amount of light is a function of wattage not voltage for any given type light. Higher wattage 6 volts lights are available. Lower wattage 12 volt lights are also available. It is quite possible to get less light at a higher voltage. If you want 12 volts that's cool but it doesn't automatically make lights brighter unless you use the 6 volt bulbs. Those are called flash bulbs.
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Jerry , I am aware of the difference in bulbs. I have model A's running 6 volt and I have model A's running 12 volt I agree it is a fact that you get less light with a low wattage bulb even if it is 12 volt.

I have posted this information many times but not on this thread. Here goes again for anybody who may be interested.You can use the 35 watt halogen bulbs with a model A generator 6 volt or 12 volt with no mods to the generator. These bulbs are much brighter than the original model A bulbs. There is a quartz halogen bulb that requires a 60 amp capable system. Most use an alternator with these bulbs and this is the most practical way to go because 12 volt alternators and quartz halogen bulbs are available at any parts store across the country. I know that the model A vendors sell a 60 amp 6 volt alternator, but try finding one at the local parts store or the 6 volt quartz halogen bulbs. I notice the quartz 6 volt bulbs list for $13.00 each and the 12 volt quartz bulbs are listed for $4.50 each. The 12 volt system will cost much less and components are readily available. The 6 volt bulbs never last as long, probably because of ground issues. But does anybody really enjoy chasing positive ground problems. I don't have to do this on my modern 12 negative ground cars.

The model A generator with some internal mods can be brought up to 60 amp capability. Bratton offers a new 60 amp armature for $75.00 and the 12 volt field coils sell for about $18.00 less than the 6 volt coils. This system will not be putting out a constant 60 amp charge anymore than the 60 amp alternators used on modern cars or the 60 amp alternators that are sold by the model A vendors in 6 or 12 volt.

There is NO modifications to the original type wiring. If you choose to run negative ground you only have to reverse the battery cables, the coil wires and the two wires behind the ammeter. You will also have to polarize the generator by touching a wire from post to post on the cut out or regulator for about 2 seconds.

You can get brighter lights easier and cheaper with a 12 volt system and parts will be readily available. Brighter lights was only one reasons for my preferance. You get super fast cranking and a more reliable electrical system with a reserve of power. A slightly weak six volt battery won't have enough power to turn the starter and fire the distributor, I hear it almost every day, my starter is turning slow and i'm not getting any fire to the points. In most cases this will be caused by a weak six volt battery and poor ground. I don't have this problem with a 12 volt system.

Either way the mods mostly require switching a few wire connections and the only way it could be detected would be if you could see the battery. I have never suggested that anybody should or needed to convert. Our 31 tudor is 6 volt original I keep it inside and I can let it sit for three months and it will crank right up for me, I put it together and I know just how to make the magic touches it likes to crank. My wife or daughter would probably run the battery down and it wouldn't crank for them. They don't have this problem with the 12 volt cars.

I have owned and driven model A's for 50 years and from my experience I prefer a 12 volt system. I am having fun with my 12 volt model A generators and I think they are PURDY damn cool.
 
Purdy Swoft said:
While I don't recommend using a bad wiring harness or an 8 volt battery, higher voltage isn't always masking a problem or a bandaid fix. For instance If a person is building a model A for a safe and dependable driver and national judging won't be an issue, a twelve volt negative ground electrical system will be an improvement. This can be done with an original generator and no readily visable changes. I always install a new wireing harness when I build another model A.

It is a novelty for me to make improvements that are not visable. I don't consider an upgrade to 12 volt a mortal sin.
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I don't see how 12 volts is safer or more dependable. My 1950 Studebaker Commander has some of the best headlights I've ever seen and it's also a 6 volt positive ground, and has plenty of power for the seperate defroster and heater motors and radio to be on at the same time the lights are on.

LONG LIVE 6 VOLTS + GROUND!
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
I don't see how 12 volts is safer or more dependable. My 1950 Studebaker Commander has some of the best headlights I've ever seen and it's also a 6 volt positive ground, and has plenty of power for the seperate defroster and heater motors and radio to be on at the same time the lights are on.

LONG LIVE 6 VOLTS + GROUND!
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If six volt is so great, wonder why all the american auto makers changed to 12 volt negative ground by the mid sixties??? I grew up with six volt cars and they could be a pain. I remember the last 6 volt car that we had as a kid. We bought a new rocket 88 olds in 1953, dad loved it but my mom would have problems running the battery down when she tried to crank it. We traded in the Olds for a new 56 chevrolet with the new 12 volt system and my mom never had a problem cranking it. I remember the 1949 De Soto that my aunt Grace had and how slow the starter turned, you needed to say a prayer that it would crank if you needed to go somewhere. Most cars back then had manual transmissions and people could push them off when they failed to crank. If you were unlucky enough to have an automatic transmission you would be S.O.L. The brightest lights that I remember was the cars that were running an 8 volt battery and they would nearly blind you if you met one at night that failed to dim their lights.

I've got more model A's than I can drive. The six volt cars that are driven on a regular basis are less of a problem and I can crank any of them, or use the hand crank if necessary. I have gotten by with the old six volt 32-50 candle power bulbs in some of our model A's but I don't consider them safe for night driving anymore.

I fairly recently gave our 31 standard coupe to my daughter. The coupe has a 60 amp 6 volt alternator and a Mallory dual point distributor. This car was always ready to go for me and I figured my daughter wouldn't have any problems cranking it. My grand daughter loves model A's just like I do and I wanted them to be able to enjoy it. Sometimes the coupe will sit in the garage for weeks without being cranked. My daughter has problems cranking it, she will often choke it a little TOO much and run the fairly new six volt battery down and she doesn't trust it. Just last week my grand daughter wanted to be picked up after school in the model A. The coupe cranked and made it to the school without a problem, when they were ready to leave she failed to make the right moves, flooded it and run the battery down to the point that the starter would still turn but not fire the points. Needless to say, what an embarassment. It wasn't long and my phone was ringing, Daden come and get me the model A won't crank. Son in law tried jump cableing it but forgot that it is positive ground.

My next project will be converting the coupe to 12 volt negative ground, If I don't it will never be driven and I can't blame them. I want my girls to be able to enjoy the model A's and we are all getting OLDER. They have no problems with the 12 volt cars, They crank so quickly that they don't have time to make a mistake when cranking. Bright lights are more safe. Even if bright headlights can be had with six volts it will be at a much higher cost and will be a pain to maintain. A more powerful system is superior in every way. Six volt was being phased out in the middle of the last century, it was a pain in the butt and I for one don't feel compelled to hold on to it. I feel that the model A's that survive to be driven in the future will eventually have to convert to 12 volt. The use of 6 volt batteries in golf carts is probably the only reason that 6 volt batteries are still produced.
 
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