The Ford Barn

MrBruce · 02-17-2018, 05:26 PM

I thought it was great years ago when I saw Farm & Fleet had 8 volt batteries and so my touring friend and I both put them in our cars. The only problem we had was burning out bulbs. If we were running down the road and turned on the lights we blew some bulbs. We didn't run the 8 volt battery very long. Tired of putting bulbs in. Just my experience.

Bob Wright · 02-18-2018, 11:48 AM

If your 6 volt system has been totaly checked out, such as: Generater output(a little over 6 volts,all electrical connections (batt. connections, must be snug, ground cable and safety fuse if you are using one?,) naturaly good 6v. battery. let use know how you make out, good luck. 8 volt batterys creat mor problems than they cure (my opinion only).
Bob

steve s · 02-18-2018, 09:23 PM

Tom, an actual electrician I gather, came closest to answering the original question: Why does more volts require fewer amps? I'll add my 2-cents worth.

Water flow/pressure is a common analogy used to explain electricity for folks who are are uncomfortable thinking about electrons and dealing with units of energy, etc.: Amps would be like the amount of water going over a water fall, while volts is like the height (or pressure) of the water fall. The amount of work the water fall can do for you depends on the combination: the more height you have, the less flow you need, and vice-versa.

In reality, amps is a measure of how much charge (such as electrons in wires) moves past a point in a second, and volts is the difference in energy per charge that the electrons have after traveling between two locations (such as battery terminals). The units of charge and energy involve funny words like coulombs and ergs, and there's no need to go into them here.

The point is, just as the amount of gravitational work you can get out of a waterfall depends on both the height and flow of the water fall, the amount of electrical work you can get out of a battery depends on both the voltage and amperage of the battery. And, thus, for example, the wiring in a 12V system doesn't have to be as heavy as in a 6v because only half as many electrons are going to have to make the journey from one terminal to the other to release the same amount of energy and do the same amount of work.

By the way, you might have noticed the key word, DIFFERENCE, in the definition of voltage: There is no such thing as the absolute voltage at some point; it always must be measured relative to the energy the electrons would have at some other point.

rocket1 · 02-19-2018, 08:36 AM

I never had a problem starting the A,anywhere from 10 deg. on up.locate your problem or problems and rectify them,no bandaid 8 volt battery!

jhowes · 02-19-2018, 10:02 AM

I found out with my 53 Jeep that when you have an 8v Battery and are 2 miles from home in the middle of the night, the headlights going out can be concerning. Jack

steve s · 02-19-2018, 11:12 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I don't understand how people could think that it would just be okay to take light bulbs that were designed for 6 volts and run them at 8 volts. Motors, like horns and starters maybe, but not white-hot filaments! Sure, they'll be nice and bright--for a while.

02-17-2018, 05:26 PM	#61
MrBruce Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 310	Re: 8 volt battery question I thought it was great years ago when I saw Farm & Fleet had 8 volt batteries and so my touring friend and I both put them in our cars. The only problem we had was burning out bulbs. If we were running down the road and turned on the lights we blew some bulbs. We didn't run the 8 volt battery very long. Tired of putting bulbs in. Just my experience.

02-18-2018, 11:48 AM	#62
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern,Maine Posts: 141	Re: 8 volt battery question If your 6 volt system has been totaly checked out, such as: Generater output(a little over 6 volts,all electrical connections (batt. connections, must be snug, ground cable and safety fuse if you are using one?,) naturaly good 6v. battery. let use know how you make out, good luck. 8 volt batterys creat mor problems than they cure (my opinion only). Bob

02-18-2018, 09:23 PM	#63
steve s Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kalamazoo Posts: 1,656	Re: 8 volt battery question Tom, an actual electrician I gather, came closest to answering the original question: Why does more volts require fewer amps? I'll add my 2-cents worth. Water flow/pressure is a common analogy used to explain electricity for folks who are are uncomfortable thinking about electrons and dealing with units of energy, etc.: Amps would be like the amount of water going over a water fall, while volts is like the height (or pressure) of the water fall. The amount of work the water fall can do for you depends on the combination: the more height you have, the less flow you need, and vice-versa. In reality, amps is a measure of how much charge (such as electrons in wires) moves past a point in a second, and volts is the difference in energy per charge that the electrons have after traveling between two locations (such as battery terminals). The units of charge and energy involve funny words like coulombs and ergs, and there's no need to go into them here. The point is, just as the amount of gravitational work you can get out of a waterfall depends on both the height and flow of the water fall, the amount of electrical work you can get out of a battery depends on both the voltage and amperage of the battery. And, thus, for example, the wiring in a 12V system doesn't have to be as heavy as in a 6v because only half as many electrons are going to have to make the journey from one terminal to the other to release the same amount of energy and do the same amount of work. By the way, you might have noticed the key word, DIFFERENCE, in the definition of voltage: There is no such thing as the absolute voltage at some point; it always must be measured relative to the energy the electrons would have at some other point. Last edited by steve s; 02-18-2018 at 09:53 PM.

02-19-2018, 08:36 AM	#64
rocket1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Midland Park,N.J. Posts: 1,108	Re: 8 volt battery question I never had a problem starting the A,anywhere from 10 deg. on up.locate your problem or problems and rectify them,no bandaid 8 volt battery!

02-19-2018, 10:02 AM	#65
jhowes Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: upstate NY near Mass border Posts: 789	Re: 8 volt battery question I found out with my 53 Jeep that when you have an 8v Battery and are 2 miles from home in the middle of the night, the headlights going out can be concerning. Jack

02-19-2018, 11:12 AM	#66
steve s Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kalamazoo Posts: 1,656	Re: 8 volt battery question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I don't understand how people could think that it would just be okay to take light bulbs that were designed for 6 volts and run them at 8 volts. Motors, like horns and starters maybe, but not white-hot filaments! Sure, they'll be nice and bright--for a while.