The curse of the 8V battery!

[Terry, NJ]

I could always be wrong, but if you've been keeping up with my other thread and my adventures with one of my coupes, you read my electrical problems. The car won't start and is generally a PITA. It is a good runner when it goes. However, all my problems are electrical, beginning when I put an 8V battery in it. Another guy said "8v batteries have to be kept running or they quit, they need usage! Could he put his 8V battery in my car for a while?" Sure ! Why not? Since that day, I've had nothing but trouble with my E-system. First the headlights blew out. then the original (Repop?) ignition switch began acting up. Then the Generator, Then the "something" that won't allow it to start (the other thread) But the generator is one of the more frustrating. It began by simply not charging, but could be induced to charge by exciting the coils. Now it's progressed to where it will not charge at all. I've had the 8V battery out of there for a while, but I'm left with all this bad stuff. No more 8V batteries for me!
Terry

[Mike V. Florida]

Hard lesson learned.

[C26Pinelake]

Sorry you did not heed the warnings given by the experts on the Barn. it's called live and learn I guess ! Wayne

[eagle]

I don'T think the 8 volt battery is the cause of any of your issues except blown light bulbs. However, an 8 volt battery doesn'T really fix anything either so I really see no need for them. Possibly in a tractor that is used all winter and needs a little extra umph on cold mornings.

[Bob Bidonde]

The Model A's generator will not properly charge an 8V battery.

[H. L. Chauvin]

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Appears every time one does something electrically different from that which was recommended and indicated on Ford's original electrical diagram, very simple fixes are not too easy to recommend.

Using unfamiliar wiring diagrams and unfamiliar electrical devices seem similar to:

I am between Miami and Charleston, have no idea what road I am on, or in which direction I am headed .............. please, in one sentence only ............ help me to get to Memphis.

[mshmodela]

I would imagine 8V batteries are less plentiful than 6V and surely 12V.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by mshmodela

I would imagine 8V batteries are less plentiful than 6V and surely 12V.

8 volt batteries are very common at Tractor supply stores. Wayne

[Willie Krash]

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

Appears every time one does something electrically different from that which was recommended and indicated on Ford's original electrical diagram, very simple fixes are not too easy to recommend.

Using unfamiliar wiring diagrams and unfamiliar electrical devices seem similar to:

I am between Miami and Charleston, have no idea what road I am on, or in which direction I am headed .............. please, in one sentence only ............ help me to get to Memphis.

Ask Siri.

BTW, enjoy all your posts. Again we agree.

If you run 8V (why) you need more than a reverse current relay, er...I mean cutout.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Willie Krash

...If you run 8V (why) you need more than a reverse current relay, er...I mean cutout.

You only need to reverse 2 volts, the rest can go thru as is.

[Wick]

Things people over look is having a good ground. The other is not having the right size battery cables. If you have replacement cable ends on the cable check those too!

[bikejunk]

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

Appears every time one does something electrically different from that which was recommended and indicated on Ford's original electrical diagram, very simple fixes are not too easy to recommend.

Using unfamiliar wiring diagrams and unfamiliar electrical devices seem similar to:

I am between Miami and Charleston, have no idea what road I am on, or in which direction I am headed .............. please, in one sentence only ............ help me to get to Memphis.

" Go west young man"

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Originally Posted by CarlG

You only need to reverse 2 volts, the rest can go thru as is.

You seem to know what you are talking about. I'm sure that you will agree that the 2 volts could also be shunted to a separate wire that is strung upwards at a 45º minimum angle and at least 2' long so the volts will gradually peter out at the rate of one volt per foot (with standard deviation) as they travel uphill along the wire.
Or maybe a small kink in the wire would do it?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I accidentally put a higher voltage battery in Pats' Crystal Clock, MAN, YOU SHOULD SEE IT GO!!!!
Bill W.

[Terry, NJ]

Ya know Bill, I thought it was kind of an innocent thing and I was sorta helping the guy out by keeping his battery alive. If I'd known all the trouble it was going to bring me I would have never allowed it. Never again!
Terry

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

I accidentally put a higher voltage battery in Pats' Crystal Clock, MAN, YOU SHOULD SEE IT GO!!!!
Bill W.

[steve s]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand Lurker

You seem to know what you are talking about. I'm sure that you will agree that the 2 volts could also be shunted to a separate wire that is strung upwards at a 45º minimum angle and at least 2' long so the volts will gradually peter out at the rate of one volt per foot (with standard deviation) as they travel uphill along the wire.
Or maybe a small kink in the wire would do it?

If you're going to go to all that trouble, you might as well run the wire on up to the chicken wire mesh that supports the roof. That will then serve as a large capacitor for the excess voltage, supplemented by gravity, to provide the extra oomph for cold morning starts. Because the mesh is both horizontal and roughly square in shape, its capacity (unlike the simple 45-degree wire) will not be dependent on the direction the car is facing during periods of high sun spot activity or variations in the Coriolis force when you travel to different latitudes on the Earth's surface. Of course, you'll want to be sure that everything is well insulated to avoid an electrical shock damaging the driver's Golgi apparatus when depressing the starter button.

[captndan]

8v batteries in 6v tractors were very popular years back. But after a while the troubles began. After a year or two the 8v batteries were junked and most of the tractors were converted to 12v alternators and negative grounds. Hard lesson learned for some.

[ODFever]

This situation reminds me of something I learned a long time ago - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

This is NOT meant as an insult to the OP. It's just something I live by.

[CarlG]

OR: If it ain't broke, fix it till it is.

(I seem to be in that rut lately)

[Bob Wright]

A couple of years ago I was having a problem with our newly restored 1931 Victoria's electrical system. There were voltage readings a couple or volts or so higher than normal (running a 6-volt alternator)? The problem was that battery was a 8-volt unit that was given to me from the auto parts clerk and I didn't catch it (extra cell). The battery was replaced with the correct unit and all's well & another lesson learned.