The Ford Barn

klawockvet · 10-27-2019, 08:44 PM

My 47 came with a 6 volt Optima battery and a one wire alternator. It had and still has a negative ground. I have had the radio repaired and want to get it working but am unsure about hooking up to the negative ground. It seems I would have two options:
1. Reverse the polarity back to positive ground. Would that make any difference to the alternator? I know the ampmeter woud read backwards but I think everything else would be fine. Any comments?

2. Send the radio off to be modified to work on negative ground. I have heard this is possible but I'm not sure.
3. Do nothing and hope that the polarity is not going to be a problem. I dont want to do this unless someone with more knowlege has done it without a problem.

10-27-2019, 08:44 PM	#1
klawockvet Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Klawock, AK/Kanab, UT Posts: 301	Radio Polarity Help Needed My 47 came with a 6 volt Optima battery and a one wire alternator. It had and still has a negative ground. I have had the radio repaired and want to get it working but am unsure about hooking up to the negative ground. It seems I would have two options: 1. Reverse the polarity back to positive ground. Would that make any difference to the alternator? I know the ampmeter woud read backwards but I think everything else would be fine. Any comments? 2. Send the radio off to be modified to work on negative ground. I have heard this is possible but I'm not sure. 3. Do nothing and hope that the polarity is not going to be a problem. I dont want to do this unless someone with more knowlege has done it without a problem.