[AT] Pos Gnd/ Neg grnd

Henry Miller hank at millerfarm.com
Fri Jan 17 14:28:13 PST 2014


Edchainsaw at aol.com wrote:
>from what I was told in engineering school:    the old  theory was that
>
>electrons flowed one way out of the battery  and then  it was
>discovered they 
>went the other  and some companies designs and  engineering was already
>built 
>the one way (and it worked)  so they didn't  change it till there was
>new 
>engineering done --- hence if you do your research  you will find that
>a JD 
>24v  (which is a 'bastardised" system from GM-) -  is actually  12v neg
>
>ground for the gauges  and  then when  alternators were put to use 
>there was new 
>engineering so all went to   (-) grnd. 
> 
> 
>that's what I was told in 1980 at my engineering school in my
>Electrical  
>Engineering class  (they didn't really spend time on DC current  we 
>were 
>into POWER.. lol ) 
> 
> 
>In a message dated 1/17/2014 12:06:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
>at-request at lists.antique-tractor.com writes:
>
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>Today's Topics:
>
>1.  Tractor batteries (Greg Hass)
>2. Re:  Tractor  batteries (Dean VP)
>3. Re:  Tractor batteries  (k7jdj at aol.com)
>4. Re:  Tractor batteries (charlie  hill)
>5. Re:  Tractor batteries (Bo  Hinch)
>6. Re:  Tractor batteries (Stephen  Offiler)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message:  1
>Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 00:06:43 -0500
>From: Greg Hass  <ghass at m3isp.com>
>Subject: [AT] Tractor batteries
>To:  at at lists.antique-tractor.com
>Message-ID:  <52D8BA63.2030407 at m3isp.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8;  format=flowed
>
>Was looking at some old tractor stuff online and was  reminded of 
>something I  have know for years but have never, at least  in my
>failing 
>memory, seen a plausible explanation as to why most 6 volt  tractors
>have 
>positive grounds whereas 12 volt tractors have negative  ground.  At 
>first I thought it could be because 6 volts had  generators, however,
>our 
>first 12 volt tractors had generators and later  models had alternators
>
>so that doesn't seem to be the reason. Any and all  answers would be
>great.
>Greg  Hass
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Thu,  16 Jan 2014 22:24:03 -0700
>From: "Dean VP"  <deanvp at att.net>
>Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor batteries
>To: "'Antique  tractor email discussion group'"
><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Message-ID:  <000001cf1344$569960f0$03cc22d0$@att.net>
>Content-Type:  text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"
>
>All 6V and 12V John Deere's  of the two Cylinder variety had positive
>ground
>set ups. 
>
>Dean  VP
>Apache Junction, AZ
>
>Atheism is a non-prophet  organization.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:  at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
>[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]  On Behalf Of Greg Hass
>Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 10:07 PM
>To:  at at lists.antique-tractor.com
>Subject: [AT] Tractor batteries
>
>Was  looking at some old tractor stuff online and was reminded of
>something 
> I
>have know for years but have never, at least in my failing memory, seen
> a
>plausible explanation as to why most 6 volt tractors have positive 
>grounds
>whereas 12 volt tractors have negative ground.  At first I  thought it
>could
>be because 6 volts had generators, however, our first 12  volt tractors
>had
>generators and later models had alternators so that  doesn't seem to be
>the
>reason. Any and all answers would be  great.
>Greg  Hass
>_______________________________________________
>AT mailing  list
>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message:  3
>Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 01:23:17 -0500 (EST)
>From:  k7jdj at aol.com
>Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor batteries
>To:  at at lists.antique-tractor.com
>Message-ID:  <8D0E163BE894680-1DC-5D27 at webmail-vd012.sysops.aol.com>
>Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>According to this link, it was  manufacture choice until it was
>discovered 
>that using positive ground  shortened spark plug life.
>
>Let the flames  begin!
>
>http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_reason_for_a_positive_ground_system
>
>Gary
>
>Renton,  WA
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dean VP  <deanvp at att.net>
>To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group' 
><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Sent: Thu, Jan 16, 2014 9:27  pm
>Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor batteries
>
>
>All 6V and 12V John  Deere's of the two Cylinder variety had positive
>ground
>set ups.  
>
>Dean VP
>Apache Junction, AZ
>
>Atheism is a non-prophet  organization.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:  at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
>[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]  On Behalf Of Greg Hass
>Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 10:07 PM
>To:  at at lists.antique-tractor.com
>Subject: [AT] Tractor batteries
>
>Was  looking at some old tractor stuff online and was reminded of
>something 
> I
>have know for years but have never, at least in my failing memory, seen
> a
>plausible explanation as to why most 6 volt tractors have positive 
>grounds
>whereas 12 volt tractors have negative ground.  At first I  thought it
>could
>be because 6 volts had generators, however, our first 12  volt tractors
>had
>generators and later models had alternators so that  doesn't seem to be
>the
>reason. Any and all answers would be  great.
>Greg  Hass
>_______________________________________________
>AT mailing  list
>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
>_______________________________________________
>AT  mailing  list
>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message:  4
>Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 07:30:58 -0500
>From: "charlie hill"  <charliehill at embarqmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor  batteries
>To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Message-ID:  <9D3C52A2F75545999ED9DD95B9A8316F at OwnerPC>
>Content-Type: text/plain;  format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>reply-type=original
>
>Greg, I don't remember ever seeing an explanation  for that either.
>Enquiring minds want to know!   grins
>
>Charlie
>
>-----Original Message----- 
>From: Greg Hass  
>Sent: Friday, January 17, 2014 12:06 AM 
>To:  at at lists.antique-tractor.com 
>Subject: [AT] Tractor batteries 
>
>Was  looking at some old tractor stuff online and was reminded of 
>something  I  have know for years but have never, at least in my
>failing 
>memory,  seen a plausible explanation as to why most 6 volt tractors
>have 
>positive  grounds whereas 12 volt tractors have negative ground.  At 
>first I  thought it could be because 6 volts had generators, however,
>our 
>first 12  volt tractors had generators and later models had alternators
>
>so that  doesn't seem to be the reason. Any and all answers would be
>great.
>Greg  Hass
>_______________________________________________
>AT mailing  list
>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message:  5
>Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 07:43:37 -0600
>From: Bo Hinch  <bohinch at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor batteries
>To:  Antique tractor email discussion group
><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Message-ID:
><CAPFiRD1m9SM2yJuWT+Q6st=_pAVpKBQMbKd5R2i6SkaUuE=gAg at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type:  text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
>Look at below link and see that  everyones thoughts about this
>discussion
>will probably be correct  ..
>
>http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/107576.html?1254186126
>
>Bo  Hinch in S/W Louisiana
>
>
>On Fri, Jan 17, 2014 at 6:30 AM, charlie  hill 
><charliehill at embarqmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Greg, I don't  remember ever seeing an explanation for that either.
>> Enquiring minds  want to know!  grins
>>
>> Charlie
>>
>>  -----Original Message-----
>> From: Greg Hass
>> Sent: Friday,  January 17, 2014 12:06 AM
>> To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
>>  Subject: [AT] Tractor batteries
>>
>> Was looking at some old  tractor stuff online and was reminded of
>> something I  have know  for years but have never, at least in my
>failing
>> memory, seen a  plausible explanation as to why most 6 volt tractors
>have
>> positive  grounds whereas 12 volt tractors have negative ground.  At
>> first  I thought it could be because 6 volts had generators, however,
>our
>>  first 12 volt tractors had generators and later models had
>alternators
>>  so that doesn't seem to be the reason. Any and all answers would be 
>
>great.
>>       Greg Hass
>>  _______________________________________________
>> AT mailing  list
>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>  _______________________________________________
>> AT mailing  list
>>  http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message:  6
>Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 09:03:00 -0500
>From: Stephen Offiler  <soffiler at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor batteries
>To:  Antique tractor email discussion group
><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>Message-ID:
><CAP6upcg2uRX9M2B=xrb0usNtuoXqbH-K8R1mNJXVCbRmZki-tg at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type:  text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
>I recall hearing that positive ground  was related somehow to a
>corrosion
>issue.  Something to do with  minimizing an electro-chemical corrosion
>mechanism, if positive ground was  used.   Google found this writeup,
>which
>sounds pretty plausible  to  me:
>
>http://www.daviescraig.com.au/POSITIVE_AND_NEGATIVE_EARTH_CARS-news.aspx
>
>SO
>
>
>
>On  Fri, Jan 17, 2014 at 12:06 AM, Greg Hass <ghass at m3isp.com>  wrote:
>
>> Was looking at some old tractor stuff online and was  reminded of
>> something I  have know for years but have never, at  least in my
>failing
>> memory, seen a plausible explanation as to why  most 6 volt tractors
>have
>> positive grounds whereas 12 volt tractors  have negative ground.  At
>> first I thought it could be because 6  volts had generators, however,
>our
>> first 12 volt tractors had  generators and later models had
>alternators
>> so that doesn't seem to be  the reason. Any and all answers would be 
>great.
>>     Greg Hass
>>  _______________________________________________
>> AT mailing  list
>>  http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>AT  mailing  list
>AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
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>
>
>End  of AT Digest, Vol 119, Issue  14
>***********************************
>
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The positive /negative terms come from Ben Franklin, way back in the early 1800s. Up until his time they only knew of on type of battery, and you just hooked one wire to the silver and one to the zink. However new batteries didn't have the same metals. 

He just said if your moter turns in the same direction as the voltiac cell, then the plus and minus was the same. Until science finds otherwise let us say power moves from plus to minus.

Note that he had no particular belief in the direction, but it is convenient to have something. Back then they had no way to know, and it didn't matter for what they were doing. 
-- 
Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.



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