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Old 07-30-2018, 09:27 PM   #1
Habusailor
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Default 8 volt battery

If I go from a 6 volt battery to an 8 volt what will I need to change on the electrical system

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Old 07-30-2018, 09:38 PM   #2
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Duck and cover! You won't find many fans of 8v batteries here.
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Old 07-30-2018, 09:43 PM   #3
Ken/Alabama
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

I must ask, Why would you want to?
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Old 07-30-2018, 09:50 PM   #4
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

What type of vehicle are you talking about?


Lights and most components draw amps so no issue there. Only hot when on. Sorta okay


Now charging, does your gen put out enough amps to charge a 8 volt system? Cutout? Voltage regular is adjustable.



Then you have to make sure your coil is reduced to 4v or should be so not to cook a coil. If all original.


Is it worth it? Clean your grounds and/or replace some wiring in your 6v system... in my opinion.
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Old 07-30-2018, 09:59 PM   #5
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinker View Post
What type of vehicle are you talking about?


Lights and most components draw amps so no issue there. Only hot when on. Sorta okay


Now charging, does your gen put out enough amps to charge a 8 volt system? Cutout? Voltage regular is adjustable.



Then you have to make sure your coil is reduced to 4v or should be so not to cook a coil. If all original.


Is it worth it? Clean your grounds and/or replace some wiring in your 6v system... in my opinion.
I am running for cover

THE car is 49


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Old 07-30-2018, 10:00 PM   #6
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

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I think it boils down to a lot of effort (and expence) for little to no gain
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:01 PM   #7
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Yep
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:03 PM   #8
JSeery
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

If your determined to ditch the 6v system why not covert to 12v?
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:12 PM   #9
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

If your going to go to 12v go to the HAMB. Trust me they will blow your mind on mods. Lots of helpful guys. You can get it here also. Sometime swith a hamb link.



The fordbarn the HAMB lite alternative.
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:40 PM   #10
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Habusailor, you have some electrical problems you are suspecting that will never be fixed by upping your voltage by 2 volts! This is why you are getting these responses. So, take the time to track these down and fix them properly. We will help you get it done properly.
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:48 PM   #11
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by RKS.PA View Post
Habusailor, you have some electrical problems you are suspecting that will never be fixed by upping your voltage by 2 volts! This is why you are getting these responses. So, take the time to track these down and fix them properly. We will help you get it done properly.

Yep
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Old 07-31-2018, 07:55 AM   #12
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Thanks guys, I will come out from my shelter now. I don’t have any problems with the 6 just needed a new battery and thought I could get a little more kick from the starter. Ya made a believer out of me. Will stay with 6 if I want to down the road I will do the conversion to 12 but will research first. Did that on my 35 but used a resistor to keep ignition at 6, works great. More complicated on the 49 with more electrical stuff. Thanks again for the comments, this is what makes this a great site!


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Old 07-31-2018, 08:04 AM   #13
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Keep it simple. Get a 6-volt Optima battery. They crank my cars better than any other 6-volt batteries I have used.
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Old 07-31-2018, 08:11 AM   #14
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Another vote for an Optima. I'm on my second, and after 15 years, wouldn't have anything else. They're kinda spendy, but the long life negates that disadvantage. I hear there could be some height problems with the older Fords, but I have one in my shoebox, and that is not a problem. I even bought one of those faux battery cases and it looks like it belongs there.
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Old 07-31-2018, 08:12 AM   #15
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

I got a 51 Chevy on trade and it had a 8 volt battery? This is the first car that I ever had with a 8 volt battery in it. It started very nice and the headlight are brite also. If I change it back to 6 volts what am I going to do with the battery? So I am leaving it 8 volts until it goes bad and need replaced then back to 6 volts. Farmers use to use 8 volts battery in there tractors because they left them out in the cold and needed them to start in all kinds of weather. They do have a need for that I guess. In all my junkers I have always use 6 volts battery. Back when I was 16 I had a 49 Dodge coupe and in the cold winter it could have use a 8 volt battery. If it was 0 weather no use trying to start it. I learn to hate that car. I had several names for it which are not nice.
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Old 07-31-2018, 08:19 AM   #16
19Fordy
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Switching to 8V is a waste of money with little, if any, improvement.
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Old 07-31-2018, 08:29 AM   #17
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

Also, changing instrument light bulbs is no fun. If you use an 8 volt battery, the regulator should be set to put out slightly more than 9 volts to keep the battery fully charged. This is hard on them little buggers.
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Old 07-31-2018, 08:58 AM   #18
jerry shook
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

I guess i am the odd man out. I have changed several 6-v to 8-v over the years never have i had a problem, never had bulbs to go out. Starts quicker, Runs much better, Brighter lights. I think that is why they went to 12-v.Order the 8-v kit ever thing you needs come with it including the instruction, Very easy to change.
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Old 07-31-2018, 09:44 AM   #19
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

When everything is right, there are no problems with a 6v system. Most who do change to 8v are masking whatever problem caused them to switch in the first place as was stated in other posts.
My analogy is if you have a boat that leaks, hook up a pump to pump the water out and forget the leak and continue to use the boat.
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Old 07-31-2018, 10:05 AM   #20
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Default Re: 8 volt battery

My '41 is 6 volt and I'm amazed on how quickly it starts, usually within one revolution, the previous owner installed an electric fuel pump near the tank. I just hit the pump switch for a few seconds and it starts right up. My car also has two nice heavy braided ground cables, one from the battery to the block and another from the block to the firewall. All connections are clean, tight, bright.
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