9 volt system

[itsa52]

If I remember correctly you use to be able to buy 9 volt regulators which would up the efficiency of the old 6 volt system.. (A good friend use to swear by them)

Curious if they are still available and what your thoughts are on them..

[Mart]

I heard of 8 volt systems, but never 9 volt. I have only ever read about 8V, but understand it was a bit of a sticking plaster to overcome the problems associated with poorly maintained 6V systems.

Mart.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

You will have to set up the reg to put out about 9 volt or better, it's pretty hard on 6 volt light bulbs. There is nothing wrong with 6 volts if everything is in working order. Walt

[Old Henry]

What Walt said. . . ' ' '

[wga]

The cable to the starter should be 0 or 1 gauge. All connections must be squeaky clean. As with all DC, clean grounds are important. All this other stuff about 8 volt,
etc., is a band aid approach.

[Mike51Merc]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Lead-acid batteries have cells that produce about 2 volts each. This is why 6V batteries have three caps and 12V have six caps, and 8V have four.

Ain't no such thing as a 9 volt lead-acid car battery.

Dry cell batteries produce 1.5V each. A 9V dry cell has six 1.5V cells inside.

[blucar]

Eight volt systems were used in a lot of vehicles/tractors, etc., during the 1940's/50's.. the added voltage/amperage was a big help in starting engines during cold weather.
I was raised in Eastern Idaho, the winter temps can be 20 below or more, there was no such thing as electric engine heaters, so a good battery was a must have item..
I used an 8v battery in my '36 Ford for many years, even after I had moved to California in '56.. The 8v worked very well on my hopped up engine, plus it gave the car added electric power for the radio, heater, etc.
Never had any problems with any of the accessories, radio, etc.. The only modification required was to adjust the regulator up to 8+ volts..
I should add that my generator is a 42-48 style two brush.. The battery was moved to behind the seat on the passenger side to allow room for the right exhaust pipe and master cylinder.. For many years the battery I used was a long skinny type for a Buick or a forklift..

[rotorwrench]

I think the 8 volt batteries were originally designed to power 32-volt golf carts. You put four batteries in there and the motors would work for a long time before needing a charge. There were a lot of farmers that used 32-volt systems in their homes with a wind charger back in the 30s & 40s. My Grandad had a set up like that til just after the war. It would run the radio and a few lights and back then that was all they needed. Most folks back then didn't stay up too long after the sun went down.

They have been used as a crutch on old deteriorated 6-volt systems since Christ was a corporal.

[itsa52]

Well I obviously didn't remember correctly, I was assuming a 9 volt regulator on a 6 volt battery,, so the key is an 8 volt battery and the regulator bumped up.

Myself I never had a problem but a good buddy back then, it was the first thing he did when he got a different car.. Often times in cold weather he would have to come jump me and then he would just grin the "I told you so grin"

My car has power windows and seat, and the thought was a bit more voltage make make them a little quicker.

[lowandratty]

We used to put the 8 volt battery in all the old 6 volt VW's tweak the regulator to put out just a little over 8 volts and it made all the lights brighter, the starter faster, and the wipers faster. We would buy the battery from napa, at the time they were tractor batteries. In the regulator there is a mechanical switching relay with a spring that has tension, the tension on the spring lets the relay cut on and off, with low voltage the relay will switch to one side and when the voltage comes up the spring tension will switch it to open and cut the regulator off. ect. back and forth to regulate voltage. Just hook up a meter with it running and adjust spring tension by bending the metal piece on top that the spring hooks to to add more tension, just a little goes a long way. 8 volts is enough, to keep the battery charged and not over tax the system, just don't short out your needle nose on any other thing, Easy right ?

[rotorwrench]

9.2-volts minimum would be required to keep an 8-volt battery fully charged. The 6-volt system requires a minimum of 7.2-volts to keep it fully charged. To my way of thinking, it would be easier to properly repair and maintain the 6-volt system. Too many owners replaced the electrical cables to the battery and such with parts store specials that would barely carry 12-volts let alone 6-volts. A well maintained 6-volt system with the proper gauge wiring throughout will give little trouble even in cold weather.

[blucar]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

9.2-volts minimum would be required to keep an 8-volt battery fully charged. The 6-volt system requires a minimum of 7.2-volts to keep it fully charged. To my way of thinking, it would be easier to properly repair and maintain the 6-volt system. Too many owners replaced the electrical cables to the battery and such with parts store specials that would barely carry 12-volts let alone 6-volts. A well maintained 6-volt system with the proper gauge wiring throughout will give little trouble even in cold weather.

In theory, your assumption about 6v systems being adequate to power the pre 1956 cars sounds good, however, in the real world of everyday driving, especially in climates with severe temp swings, the "common" use of 8v batteries in cars/trucks was a must...
Reading up on automobile history will reveal that the vast majority of European cars, even those exported from the U.S. to Europe were equipped with 12v systems prior to 1941..
Of course it can be a challenge adding an 8v battery to a pre '37 Ford, the under floor battery case has limited space..

[Mike51Merc]

Originally Posted by blucar

In theory, your assumption about 6v systems being adequate to power the pre 1956 cars sounds good, however, in the real world of everyday driving, especially in climates with severe temp swings, the "common" use of 8v batteries in cars/trucks was a must...
Reading up on automobile history will reveal that the vast majority of European cars, even those exported from the U.S. to Europe were equipped with 12v systems prior to 1941..
Of course it can be a challenge adding an 8v battery to a pre '37 Ford, the under floor battery case has limited space..

I respectfully disagree that 8V batteries are a must, however I concede that they serve as a band-aid for bad connections and cars that are out of tune. I'm a fan of 6 volt originality, but I still believe that a full 12 volt swap is better than an 8 volt patch job.

If you're talking about starting the car it's the cranking amps that matter to get it spinning. A 6 volt starter will always spin more slowly, but if your engine is well tuned the car will start. If your engine is out of tune, spinning it faster with 8 or 12 volts will help it start quicker. I'd rather see a 6 volt car get maintenance and tuning before swapping in an 8 volt battery.

[rotorwrench]

If I was going to the trouble to convert, I would certainly use a voltage that would be to my advantage for ease of maintenance and availability. 12-volt would be the most friendly change.

[itsa52]

Having a car with 6 volt power windows, power seat and power top the idea of switching to 12 Volt is a bit staggering..
Not worrying about starting or tune,, She starts and runs just fine,, it's the accessories I would like to step up a bit.

Somewhere I might add a pair of 94's or a four barrel too, maybe even a cam or some heads (already have the headers) but I am guessing some would say that is a patch for lack of power too.

[Kirby1374]

Originally Posted by itsa52

Having a car with 6 volt power windows, power seat and power top the idea of switching to 12 Volt is a bit staggering..
Not worrying about starting or tune,, She starts and runs just fine,, it's the accessories I would like to step up a bit.

Somewhere I might add a pair of 94's or a four barrel too, maybe even a cam or some heads (already have the headers) but I am guessing some would say that is a patch for lack of power too.

hahaha, that's a good one

[52merc]

you can put resistors on your power seat n windows or get 12volt stuff for them both

[rotorwrench]

The Fifth Avenue Internet Garage has a good booklet on changing things over. They can also answer questions a person might have about accessories. Where there is a will, there is a way.

[brien]

I suffered the 6 volt positive for years in my 51 F-3 Slow starts, dead battery, etc.. I finally converted to 12 volt neg and never looked back.

[blucar]

I guess the difference between my position on the use of 8v in lieu of 6v in the earlier cars, comes from the practical everyday use of a car vs. a "hobby" use of a car..
From 1952 to about 1974 I drove my '36 Ford over 94k, every day use during summer and winter driving in the inter-mountain west, Southern Nevada and Southern California..
In the 1950's, 12v was almost unheard of except in the very large truck batteries, the average 6v battery left much to be desired, especially if a person was on a limited budget..
I will admit that in today's world, very good 6v batteries are available and that a well maintained vehicle will generally start with an original type electrical system. After all, if the car won't start, you call AAA, or you take your new car to the cruise night..