The Ford Barn

Diavolo · 04-26-2016, 09:07 PM

You need to have 2.4V per cell over rated voltage to properly charge any battery. If you have a 8V battery on a 6V charging system, you will NEVER properly keep the battery charged and it will sulfate and die sooner, requiring replacement. Run whatever voltage you want, but have your charging system set up for it. Your charging system will need to put out 9.6V to properly charge the battery.

IMHO, run 6 or 12. Both are common enough to get parts if you're stranded. As said before, if you're having problems 8V is a band aid. Replace your wiring. Unless it was a restoration, I would just run 12 just for the fact someone might need a jump start and 12 is universal.

(I may wrong about the numbers for charging, I'm recalling from memory. If I am off, please correct my numbers.)

04-26-2016, 09:07 PM	#15
Diavolo Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 67	Re: 6 volt or 8 volt?? You need to have 2.4V per cell over rated voltage to properly charge any battery. If you have a 8V battery on a 6V charging system, you will NEVER properly keep the battery charged and it will sulfate and die sooner, requiring replacement. Run whatever voltage you want, but have your charging system set up for it. Your charging system will need to put out 9.6V to properly charge the battery. IMHO, run 6 or 12. Both are common enough to get parts if you're stranded. As said before, if you're having problems 8V is a band aid. Replace your wiring. Unless it was a restoration, I would just run 12 just for the fact someone might need a jump start and 12 is universal. (I may wrong about the numbers for charging, I'm recalling from memory. If I am off, please correct my numbers.)