12 volt converson

B

bill stocksdale

Member
I switched my 35 ford coupe to 12 volts. by just using the same generator with the cut out relay on top, will it keep the battery charged up. also is the key switch on the side of the steering heavy enough to run a fuse panel off of it. the fuse panel will only have a couple of circuts on it thanks, bill
 
with a 3 brush generator the charge rate depends on the setting, and your use, the charge rate is to be adjusted up or down depending on the needs of each owner, if the battery charge goes down over time the charge rate is too low, if the battery uses too much water the charge rate is too high ---both with 6V and 12V
 
Hi There, You should not use a 6volt gen on a 12volt system.(Some will say a 6volt will work OK on 12volts but it wont work very well). A 12 volt generator will work much more effectively. Your 6volt gen can be converted by changing the field coils to 12volt ones. The 6volt cut out on top of your gen will NOT WORK on 12volts. You need a 12volt cutout or a Fun Projects 12 volt voltage regulator which looks the same as your old round ford cutout. Google Fun Projects for their range of regulators. As for your original ford ignition switch its never a good idea to load it up with extra circuits, however you can have it switch a relay which will then carry the load of the extra electrical items and fusebox which will save any voltage drop on your ignition system. Regards, Kevin.
 
I agree with all----BUT ---- I have had a 6-V generator on my 33 roadster for 30+
years. I have driven it to Dearborn mi --- Canada--- san Diego---- I live in the San Francisco Bay area. NO trouble... Just my opinion.
 
I have an old CC boat that was 6v, changed to 12v ,used the same generator and obtained a 12v cutout, adjusted current with 3rd brush and has been operating for over 25 years with no problems
 
Im confused here. So you guys are saying a 6v generator will keep a 12v batt charged if the cutout is adjusted? Or the other option is to rewire generator for 12v and still use the cutout rather than a voltage regulator? When you use a cutout do you need to monitor your amp gauge and run your lights to help prevent over charging? phew..lots of questions! Ken
 
What cut out are you using ,Wizz
whizzernick said:
I agree with all----BUT ---- I have had a 6-V generator on my 33 roadster for 30+
years. I have driven it to Dearborn mi --- Canada--- san Diego---- I live in the San Francisco Bay area. NO trouble... Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
 
bill stocksdale said:
can you give me the shop name and phone number I would like to talk to them and probably send mine to him to. thanks, bill
Click to expand...

I don't have the number handy, but it was Bernie's Auto Electric in East Hartford Connecticut. I see you're in Ohio, there's got to be someone much nearer to you who can do the work.

Can any of the Ohio Fordbarner's help my friend Bill out?
 
To Ken Arms, If you are changing an early ford V8 third brush generator (1932-1938) from 6volt to 12volt, then the cutout on top of generator will have to be changed to a 12volt one. The 6volt cutout cannot be adjusted in any way to work on 12volts as the voltage winding in side the cutout is different to a 12volt unit. There are 12volt systems with 12volt generators designed by engineers to operate with efficiency on 12volts. Using a 6volt generator on a 12volt system is not a recommended action. It might work but not efficiently. From 1939 when two brush generators and a three unit voltage/current regulator was used on fords if you then used a 6volt generator on a 12volt system conversion, the generator field current draw in amps would double. This higher field current goes through the 12 volt regulator contacts and would soon burn them out. Do the conversion right. A 6volt generator for a 6 volt system. A 12 volt generator for a 12 volt system. Regards, Kevin.
 
koates>>>This higher field current goes through the 12 volt regulator contacts and would soon burn them out.>>>

How 'soon' is dependent on point quality since average field current depends on point duty cycle (time closed v open) per generated power consumption. Since power consumption would be the same for both 6v & 12v, the current consumption and thus the field duty cycle would be about half for a 12v setup. No question that the points would open and close with about twice the frequency in a 12v system. But twice the frequency does not necessarily translate to mean the points will burn out twice as fast. And even if they did only last half as long, a regulator usually lasts a long time anyway.

Jack E/NJ
 
Well Jack, you must be an electrical engineer to figure out (guess ?) all that highly technical detail. The fact is that 6volt generators are designed to work with 6volt regulators, and 12volt generators with 12volt regs. There are substantial differences between 6 & 12 volt voltage regulators. When you start mixing electrical components up you compromise correct operation and long service life, its that simple. With over 50 years in the auto electrical field I learnt quickly that things had to be done correctly the first time around otherwise you have to do the job a second time. Keep doing that and you go broke. I am a little puzzled by your post and what point you are trying to make. If you want to run a stock unmodified 6volt generator on your 12volt car with a 12volt regulator then go for it Jack and let me know how long the regulator lasts and wether or not the regulator compensates correctly for all battery charging and electrical load variations. Good luck. Best Regards, Kevin.
 
whizzernick said:
I agree with all----BUT ---- I have had a 6-V generator on my 33 roadster for 30+
years. I have driven it to Dearborn mi --- Canada--- san Diego---- I live in the San Francisco Bay area. NO trouble... Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

Now your generator will burn out because you now know that it can't be done. :D
 
Ken Arms said:
Im confused here. So you guys are saying a 6v generator will keep a 12v batt charged if the cutout is adjusted? Or the other option is to rewire generator for 12v and still use the cutout rather than a voltage regulator? When you use a cutout do you need to monitor your amp gauge and run your lights to help prevent over charging? phew..lots of questions! Ken
Click to expand...

Cut outs and regulators are two different things. The cut out simply stops the battery from turning your generator into a motor. When the voltage from the generator reaches a certain point the relay (cutout) closes and allows the output to go to the battery. In this simple setup the battery is the voltage "regulator". This is why if the car is run without a battery connected the output will rise until damage if done to the generator.
 
We do this on Model T's all the time, with no problems. The cutout works like a check valve so the current can only flow away from the generator. It has nothing to do with the charge rate. The generator adjustable brush governs the charge rate, so you should readjust it after the conversion. The generator can easily charge at 12 volts. Either an original or new solid state cutout works fine. However, if you use a Fun Projects voltage regulator, you will have to change it.
 
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