[AT] 8-volt batteries in 6-volt tractors

[D. Day]

 If the 8-volt battery goes dead, how would you charge it?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Brueck" <b2 at chooka.net>
To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'" 
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 8:38 AM
Subject: RE: [AT] 8-volt batteries in 6-volt tractors


The biggest nuisance on switching to an 8 volt system is that you will burn
out lights like crazy unless you can source some 8 volt bulbs.  These used
to be available, I don't know about availability now.

If the tractor has a voltage regulator it can be set to charge a little
higher; I'd think about 9 - 9.5 volts would be good.  There would be either
an adjusting screw in the regulator or likely just a tang you can bend that
engages one of the relay springs.  If the tractor just runs with a cutout it
will probably be OK the way it is.

That said, I'd stick with the 6 volt.  It's more original, and unless you
have a starting problem, why change it.

B²

Bill Brueck (brick)
Chatfield, MN, USA

Confusion is a higher state of knowledge than ignorance.


-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of D. Day
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 7:56 AM
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: [AT] 8-volt batteries in 6-volt tractors

TSC has quit stocking 6-volt batteries and replaced them with 8-volt. The
sticker on the 8-volt battery states that the 'extra 2 volts helps antique
vehicles start easier.'

Several years ago, a friend suggested that I buy an 8-volt for a Ford 2N
that I was working on. Once I installed it, I found that the charging system
on the 2N wasn't keeping up with the task and I was unsure exactly how to
charge an 8-volt battery with my 6-volt/12-volt charger.

I called Exide, the company that made the 8-volt battery, and finally spoke
with an engineer. He suggested strongly that 8-volt batteries should never
be used in any application that was not designed to maintain an 8-volt
battery.  He said that typically the on-board 6-volt charging systems are
not adequate and except for a few industrial machines, no one makes an
8-volt charger.  According to him, charging an 8-volt battery with a 6-volt
charger doesn't work and charging it with a 12-volt charger is dangerous.

Anyone have experience with 8-volt batteries?

Dick Day

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