The Ford Barn

eagle · 08-02-2025, 10:19 PM

I put a new tractor 6V battery from Fleet Farm and a Fun Projects voltage regulator 14 years ago last spring. Both are still going strong. I know they had quit building the FP regulator, I haven't kept up, are they back on the market yet? I don't use a battery maintainer, just jump in and start it in the spring, shut it off for the last time in the fall. Store my A in an unheated shed. So, I consider that to be a true testament to the FP regulator and Fleet Farm batteries.

alexiskai · 08-02-2025, 10:54 PM

The EVRs on the market today get installed in the generator rather than the cutout.

Bruce of MN · 08-03-2025, 04:13 AM

I wonder what the latest is on this type?

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2297785

ndnchf · 08-03-2025, 06:18 AM

Mike Hill's EVR is currently available for both long generators and Powerhouses. I've installed about a dozen of them, including in my own cars. They work perfectly.

Steve

nkaminar · 08-03-2025, 09:16 AM

You will not find any generators with third brush regulation on any cars made after the Model A. (Maybe one or two.) The voltage regulator will make the battery last a long time. Back in the day we would get a voltage regulator from a more modern Ford and adopt it to our Model A's.

Henry's aversion to any electrical mechanisms may have been why the Model A had a generator with third brush regulation. It may also be why the Model T had such an antique ignition system up until the very end.

SDJason · 08-03-2025, 10:39 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce of MN

I wonder what the latest is on this type?

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2297785

From that thread, here is a link directly to his website where he discusses the development of his Fun Projects type replacement regulator, and from there you can go shopping (for both Model A & Model T).

Edit: took a look at his website, looks like the Model A regulator is out of stock, with no backorder option : (

alexiskai · 08-03-2025, 11:04 AM

I was talking to rackops recently about the potential for a really cool accessory. It would be a battery housed in a replica original case, but instead of lead-acid it would be LiFePO4 cells. These have much higher energy density than lead-acid, so the cells would take up less than half the case. Then in the rest of the case you could put a circuit board that would intelligently charge the cells, including a voltage regulator. That way you could just use a stock generator.

It would also be user-serviceable, so if the cells wear out you could swap in new ones. And it would only weigh about 20 lbs.

Six 38120S cells configured as 2s3p would get you 6.4V with 30Ah capacity and 300 cranking amps, with the ability to absorb the full 20A output of the generator.

nkaminar · 08-03-2025, 12:26 PM

If you have a 12 volt car you can buy a Li-ion battery on Amazon starting at about $140. These batteries have amazing cold cranking amperage. I think there are 6 volt Li-ion batteries too.

alexiskai · 08-03-2025, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

If you have a 12 volt car you can buy a Li-ion battery on Amazon starting at about $140. These batteries have amazing cold cranking amperage. I think there are 6 volt Li-ion batteries too.

There are 6V LiFePO4 batteries but they're built to run golf carts, they don't have the cranking amps a Model A would need.

nkaminar · 08-03-2025, 01:50 PM

Here is a 6 volt Li-ion battery with 680 cold crank amps.

https://www.wholesalebatteries.net/p...-6-12-warranty

alexiskai · 08-03-2025, 02:59 PM

Pricey, though, wouldn’t sell to this market.

Lawrie · 08-03-2025, 03:24 PM

my 33 and 34 have 3 brush generators .
Lawrie

CWPASADENA · 08-03-2025, 09:47 PM

It was not until the later '30s that ford went to a 2-brush generator.

30Tudor · 08-03-2025, 10:35 PM

There are a couple of challenges with the cutout style EVR:

* the recommended third brush setting is 5 Amps which limits the generator output
* the cutout style EVR is highly susceptible to damage if there is a high reverse current put through it (eg. polarizing the generator)

The "Tom Wesenberg (TW) Style EVR", similar to mine, does not have these limitations. Further, if the generator is disconnected from the battery, this EVR will protect the generator. The TW style regulates the current to the field coils to vary output voltage to 7.1V similar to the early Ford electromechanical voltage regulator (steady car ammeter reading). The Cutout style "shorts" the excess current to ground once the generator output exceeds 7.1V thereby cycling the battery charge rate (varying car ammeter reading).

My understanding is that Jeff Stevenson (modeltstarters.com) is no longer pursuing a cutout style voltage regulator for the Model A. ...according to a mutual friend that was testing one.

Badpuppy · 08-04-2025, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkaminar

Here is a 6 volt Li-ion battery with 680 cold crank amps.

https://www.wholesalebatteries.net/p...-6-12-warranty

That's an AGM battery, like the Optima.

eagle · 08-05-2025, 07:23 PM

I set my generator output to 16 amps at fast idle with the stock cutout, which was nearly max on my generator. Then installed the regulator-in-the-cutout. It charges +1 amp with lights on low, -2 amps with lights on high. Std bulbs. After starting, the current jumps to 10 or 12 amps, then tapers off as the battery rises. Been flawless for 14 years, battery still cranks well. The directions I got with mine said to set at 16 amps. It came from Mac's. The nice thing about the cutout regulator is the simplicity. Not sure what the advantage of a lithium or AGM battery would be, if you take care of a tractor battery they will last many years, and they're cheap... relatively. Getting close to $100

Quote:

Originally Posted by 30Tudor

There are a couple of challenges with the cutout style EVR:

* the recommended third brush setting is 5 Amps which limits the generator output
* the cutout style EVR is highly susceptible to damage if there is a high reverse current put through it (eg. polarizing the generator)

The "Tom Wesenberg (TW) Style EVR", similar to mine, does not have these limitations. Further, if the generator is disconnected from the battery, this EVR will protect the generator. The TW style regulates the current to the field coils to vary output voltage to 7.1V similar to the early Ford electromechanical voltage regulator (steady car ammeter reading). The Cutout style "shorts" the excess current to ground once the generator output exceeds 7.1V thereby cycling the battery charge rate (varying car ammeter reading).

My understanding is that Jeff Stevenson (modeltstarters.com) is no longer pursuing a cutout style voltage regulator for the Model A. ...according to a mutual friend that was testing one.

08-02-2025, 10:19 PM	#1
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,081	Fun Projects regulator I put a new tractor 6V battery from Fleet Farm and a Fun Projects voltage regulator 14 years ago last spring. Both are still going strong. I know they had quit building the FP regulator, I haven't kept up, are they back on the market yet? I don't use a battery maintainer, just jump in and start it in the spring, shut it off for the last time in the fall. Store my A in an unheated shed. So, I consider that to be a true testament to the FP regulator and Fleet Farm batteries. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

08-02-2025, 10:54 PM	#2
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,849	Re: Fun Projects regulator The EVRs on the market today get installed in the generator rather than the cutout.

08-03-2025, 04:13 AM	#3
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 1,808	Re: Fun Projects regulator I wonder what the latest is on this type? https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2297785

08-03-2025, 09:16 AM	#5
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,873	Re: Fun Projects regulator You will not find any generators with third brush regulation on any cars made after the Model A. (Maybe one or two.) The voltage regulator will make the battery last a long time. Back in the day we would get a voltage regulator from a more modern Ford and adopt it to our Model A's. Henry's aversion to any electrical mechanisms may have been why the Model A had a generator with third brush regulation. It may also be why the Model T had such an antique ignition system up until the very end. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

08-03-2025, 11:04 AM	#7
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,849	Re: Fun Projects regulator I was talking to rackops recently about the potential for a really cool accessory. It would be a battery housed in a replica original case, but instead of lead-acid it would be LiFePO4 cells. These have much higher energy density than lead-acid, so the cells would take up less than half the case. Then in the rest of the case you could put a circuit board that would intelligently charge the cells, including a voltage regulator. That way you could just use a stock generator. It would also be user-serviceable, so if the cells wear out you could swap in new ones. And it would only weigh about 20 lbs. Six 38120S cells configured as 2s3p would get you 6.4V with 30Ah capacity and 300 cranking amps, with the ability to absorb the full 20A output of the generator.

08-03-2025, 12:26 PM	#8
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,873	Re: Fun Projects regulator If you have a 12 volt car you can buy a Li-ion battery on Amazon starting at about $140. These batteries have amazing cold cranking amperage. I think there are 6 volt Li-ion batteries too. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

08-03-2025, 01:50 PM	#10
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,873	Re: Fun Projects regulator Here is a 6 volt Li-ion battery with 680 cold crank amps. https://www.wholesalebatteries.net/p...-6-12-warranty __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

08-03-2025, 02:59 PM	#11
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,849	Re: Fun Projects regulator Pricey, though, wouldn’t sell to this market.

08-03-2025, 03:24 PM	#12
Lawrie Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 4,529	Re: Fun Projects regulator my 33 and 34 have 3 brush generators . Lawrie

08-03-2025, 09:47 PM	#13
CWPASADENA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PASADENA, CA Posts: 1,931	Re: Fun Projects regulator It was not until the later '30s that ford went to a 2-brush generator.

08-03-2025, 10:35 PM	#14
30Tudor Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 224	Re: Fun Projects regulator There are a couple of challenges with the cutout style EVR: * the recommended third brush setting is 5 Amps which limits the generator output * the cutout style EVR is highly susceptible to damage if there is a high reverse current put through it (eg. polarizing the generator) The "Tom Wesenberg (TW) Style EVR", similar to mine, does not have these limitations. Further, if the generator is disconnected from the battery, this EVR will protect the generator. The TW style regulates the current to the field coils to vary output voltage to 7.1V similar to the early Ford electromechanical voltage regulator (steady car ammeter reading). The Cutout style "shorts" the excess current to ground once the generator output exceeds 7.1V thereby cycling the battery charge rate (varying car ammeter reading). My understanding is that Jeff Stevenson (modeltstarters.com) is no longer pursuing a cutout style voltage regulator for the Model A. ...according to a mutual friend that was testing one.