Discharge with sealed beams

Racur96

Racur96

Senior Member
I've been driving my 29 pickup daily now for the past week. I've adjusted the generator & it's putting out about 8-9 amps charge while going down the road at 45 or so. It has maybe a 1 amp charge at idle but when I turn my headlights on it drops down to a 10-11 amp discharge on low beams and almost bottoms out with high beams on. I've installed a new battery about 2 months ago, running a stock 6v positive ground system, stock generator with GE 6006 sealed beam headlights. Any idea why it's dropping so much? I'm afraid to up the charging rate anymore as it may blow the headlights.
 
Hi mike, this may sound like a stupid question but will the battery not go dead if I'm driving it a long distance? Like an hour or so at night with that much discharge. Thanks
 
The model A generator is made for a safe maximum continuous output of about 12 amps. Sealed beams use more than that, so if you want to use them I would use a later higher output generator and install a voltage regulator. Lead/acid batteries don't like to be left in a state of discharge. They also don't like to be in a state of continuous overcharge, such as 8 or 9 amps, when it's already fully charged.
 
If you read the instruction book it says that it is normal to have "discharge" with the lights on

I have found that seal beams take more amps than the quartz halogen bulbs I have ---also 50cp bulbs too.
 
I have read my Instruction book and know its supposed to discharge but the question I was wandering about was the amount of discharge being so much. I guess I'll get the parts to go back to the original headlight setup. Thanks guys.
 
If you're not a purist, just pop on a 6 Volt positive ground alternator & everything will be good & trouble free. Bill W.

(And you will be prepared for that time when you might HAVE to drive a considerable time at night.)
 
Last edited:
Racur96 said:
I have read my Instruction book and know its supposed to discharge but the question I was wandering about was the amount of discharge being so much. I guess I'll get the parts to go back to the original headlight setup. Thanks guys.
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Before you go and spend your money, how much night driving are you doing?

75 % of all your driving, 50%, 10%, less? People have used the sealed beam headlights for a long time with a generator. Once is a while will hurt nothing.
 
When I bought my Model A over 55 years ago it had a seal beam conversion. I used it as my daily driver to and from school as well as anyother time I wanted/needed to drive it. Never had a Problem with the battery going dead. 6 Volt system with cut out
 
Maybe 50% of my driving will be night time driving. I'm out a lot and do some stop and go driving. I came home last night about 2 am and they seemed to be fine and battery started good this morning, it was about a 20 min drive.
 
Haha you do have a point bill. I'm not a complete purist on this truck like I am my other one but I HATE the looks of a alternator on an a engine, not the design of a alternator just the look, but does anyone make a alternator for the a that looks like a stock a generator. I know there is one offered for the 8ba style flatheads that mount up top & front but I haven't seen one for the a's. if they do offer one that's something I would consider doing. Thanks
 
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