8 volt battery in a 6 volt car?

[old31]

Do you see anything wrong with installing a 8 volt battery in a 6 volt car with an alternator.

[Jack E/NJ]

Should work fine with an 8 volt alternator except for the cost, lights burning out quicker and stress on the ignition system. Other than that, go for it. 8^) Jack E/NJ

[old31]

When i got the car they said that the alternator was 8 volt. I have noticed that bulbs have been burning out.

Soooooooo, is there really any advantage to the 8 volt. Maybe more cranking amps?

[tubman]

I really don't think that there is an 8 volt battery (golf cart batteries excepted) that has more CCA than a 6 volt Optima. What you really need are good connections, good grounds, and the proper size battery cables.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by tubman

I really don't think that there is an 8 volt battery (golf cart batteries excepted) that has more CCA than a 6 volt Optima. What you really need are good connections, good grounds, and the proper size battery cables.

100% correct and well stated!

[Jack E/NJ]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

8v tractor batteries usually have more CCAs. Jack E/NJ

[Joe Shell]

The car was built to run with a six volt electrical system. Increasing battery voltage by 33 percent is not a good idea. You can see when bulbs burn out but what about damage to the coil, etc? There is a risk but whereÂ’s the gain?

Just put a 6 volt Red Top Optima battery in my 36 Cabriolet and what a difference! Spins over fast and starts instantly. This battery has 800 cold cranking amps which is more than any other battery I could find. The Optima I replaced was in the car for almost 13 years. Good value for $199.99 from Optima with free shipping.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Jack E/NJ

8v tractor batteries usually have more CCAs. Jack E/NJ

As we all should know, an Optima is 800 CCA. Generally speaking, you can only get so many watts in a given volume with a lead acid battery. Basic electrical theory tells you you give up car-starting amperage for bulb-destroying voltage. Don't make a lot of sense to me.

Old tractors don't usually have a lot of extras like radios, electrical gauges, heater blower motors, and lights. The lights they do have are usually easily replaced cheap bulbs.

[FortyNiner]

Originally Posted by Jack E/NJ

8v tractor batteries usually have more CCAs. Jack E/NJ

Even the conventional 6 volt lead acid battery from Napa has 600+ CCA. The whole 8 volt 'solution' is just misplaced thinking to me.

[Jack E/NJ]

Volt-CCA or cold cranking power (watts) delivered to the starter is the main factor. How long that cranking power is able to be delivered determines the size of the battery. Jack E/NJ

[40cpe]

The wattage is volts x amps. 570 amps at 8v is more than 600 (+) at 6v.
I'm not supporting using an 8v battery, just my opinion that an 8v battery does give more cranking power.

Jack was posting while I was typing

[Tinker]

The idea of using a 8v battery has been around forever. To me it seems like a easy "fix" to more problems.

[Alaska Jim]

an 8 volt battery is a patch for a problem. not only will the bulbs burn out faster, if you want the 8 volt batt to stay properly charged , you will have to adjust the voltage regulator .

[Tinker]

Not to mention points. If you want a quick coil 6 volt bypass on startup. Maybe spend 13$ on a tractor 6v 4 pole solenoid.

https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/3...IaAis1EALw_wcB

https://www.steinertractor.com/ABC39...EaAjmeEALw_wcB

[Tinker]

Lead acid batteries are fine if you like replacing them every few years. Used to buy batteries from a forklift place. Lead acid. Couple years of that and replacement... I bought a optima 6v. Never looked back for 10yrs. Own a couple.

[fortyfords]

The problem I had with an 8 volt battery was how to charge it when I wasn't driving down the road. So I went back to a 6 volt battery and adjusted the voltage regulator for 7.2 volts and was happy evermore.

[GaryU.]

My '38 Convertible had an 8 volt battery in it when I first got it. A Barn member spotted it right away(I would have probably never noticed) and I switched it back to a 6 volt shortly after. The amp gauge needle had been jumping around like crazy before and settled back to normal after the battery switch. Works fine with the 6 volt battery.

[Mike51Merc]

Volts and amps are not interchangeable concepts. Electrical theory can get complicated, but think of amps as storage and volts as push. A 6 volt battery can have lots more amps than an 8 volt battery ---- this usually shows itself in the physical size, as bigger size batteries aren't stronger but do last longer. More cranking amps means it will crank for longer (but not any faster) until it dies out.

Back to your question, you can put in an 8 volt battery if you adjust your voltage regulator to properly charge it. Yes, bulbs will be brighter and burn out faster, and your starter may spin quicker, but there is no guarantee that you'll have more cranking amps in storage to crank it for longer.

Personally, I see 8 volt batteries as a band-aid for 6 volt problems. Better to fix the problem than to just cover it up.

[19Fordy]

Better off spending the time and money to make sure your 6V
system is in tip top condition.

If you are intent on changing voltage, convert system to 12V.

[old31]

No, I am not trying to convert or change anything, the 8 volt was in the car when I got it.

I will be taking it out an ordered a 6 v optima. It seems to me I will have less problems, better cranking amps and 15lbs lighter.

[19Fordy]

Sounds like a good plan. Check all connections and be sure to use the correct battery braided battery cables, not the thin 12V cables.

[VeryTangled]

Originally Posted by old31

I will be taking it out an ordered a 6 v optima. It seems to me I will have less problems, better cranking amps and 15lbs lighter.

What vehicle are we discussing? My 35 & 36 used a low profile battery originally and fitting modern replacements including my preferred Optima RedTop do require a little fiddling.

[paul55]

Run the 8 volt and adj. regulator. Starting is easier, lights a little brighter, and after 10 yrs. have noticed no lifespan issues with bulbs.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Jack E/NJ

8v tractor batteries usually have more CCAs. Jack E/NJ

Deka's are the best in the business. So much so, OEM battery for all BMW's.

[Baggs]

If the battery were to go dead, say you left h to e lights on, would it charge enough on a 6v charger? I know 12 volt chargers put out more than 12, but never checked what happens on 6volts

[old31]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by VeryTangled

What vehicle are we discussing? My 35 & 36 used a low profile battery originally and fitting modern replacements including my preferred Optima RedTop do require a little fiddling.

Talking about a 35. Someone altered my battery case long ago, so the optima will work.

[Byron Warwick]

I have had an 8 volt Interstate battery for the last 2 years. My mechanic adjusted the voltage regulator for the increase. It now starts like a 12 volt, and all the lights are some brighter. It is one of the best things I did for my truck. I also removed the wiper motor and cleaned it and re-oiled. It also runs great; I do have a tomato juice vaccum tank mounted under the dash, so that helps.
Sadly not much driving in 2020 for the obvious reason.
Cheers, Byron. (Yes I am still alive.)

[Tinker]

Byron, things will get better I hope around 2021 next summer. I'm sure your mechanic can agree.

[blucar]

When I lived in Eastern Idaho during the '40's, '50's 8 volt battery's in a 6v vehicles were very common. I put an 8v battery in my '36 in '52, ran it until I moved to Vegas, then switched to 6v after the 8v failed in '55.
I never experienced any issues with the lights, radio or heater. The 8v battery made the '36 much easier starting in sub-zero temps which I did not experience in southern Nevada.
I think that most of the pro-con hype about 8V in a 6v system causing problems is based on theory not actual experience.

[aussie merc]

8 volts never could understand the logic its in the middle of nowhere theres nothing wrong with 6 volts these days since you can now get 6v LEDs it just takes a little more mantance