Guest LHazleton Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 My 47 Ford has an 8 volt battery.The car has been sitting dormant for over a year & a half and I'd like to get it running again. My question is, will I be able to use a 12v charger, or will this do damage to the battery? When I use the 6v setting, it reads 100% and won't charge anymore. Engine cranks very slowly & won't even think about starting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyler Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 you can jump off a 12 volt car to get it started, then let the car charge its own battery. do not charge the 8 volt with a 12 volt charger. when jumping with 12 volts have all electrical items such as headlites, radio, heater in the off position. your car can easily handle this as long as you don't crank for excessively long times. keep polarity the same. usually an 8 volt battery is put in a car to make up for other problems that make the car hard to start. if those other problems are addressed then the original 6 volt system is more than adequate. this issue has been well addressed on this forum so do a search and you will get alot of help. skyler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LHazleton Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Thanks much, Skyler! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LHazleton Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 I brought the battery into my garage & found that it has 2 weak cells. Maybe that's why it cranks so slow. DUH.I'll just buy a new 6v battery and hope for the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bob Call Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 (edited) Check the cables and the connections. A little corrosion of a 6V system will really affect its performance. I would replace the insulated cable from the battery to the starter solinoid (negative) and the ground (positive) if it is insulated. Also the cable from the solinoid to the starter. A lot of times these cables have corrosion inside the insulation that you can't see. DO NOT REPLACE WITH 12V CABLES. Make sure all connections are clean and tight. On this Ford I would use the flat woven ground cable from the battery to an engine head stud or if the battery is too far from the engine a cable from the battery to the frame and a cable from the frame to an engine head stud. As has been stated so many times on this forum, if a 6V system is clean and tight and there is no problem with the starter, solinoid, etc. it will work just fine. Back in the day an 8V battery was a bandaid approach to corrosion or a starter that needed new bushings. Edited October 19, 2011 by Bob Call (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Jelf- southern KS Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Correct. The eight volt battery is just a Band aid for some usually minor problem. Use proper six volt cables, not twelve, and be sure all connections are clean and tight. If a six volt battery in good condition still won't get the engine turning enough to start, fix the starter. I have no trouble starting a 1923 Model T, a 1946 Allis Chalmers Model B, and a 1951 Dodge pickup on six volts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 As I've said before, the 8 volt batteries were first popularized by used car salesmen of the day as a way to move cars off the lot. they weren't concerned about what happened after you faded from sight. L brings up a dilemma in that you can't charge them,even the car's own system won't keep it up for long. I guess they had 8 volt chargers back then but I've never seen one. You might be able to put a proper sized resistor in series into a 12 V charger circuit or if you have a 24 volt charger you could series three 8 volt batteries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 I had my 8 volt batt. go dead from sitting. I connected a 12V charger to it on low and in 5 min. it started (with the charger assist). I know that I made a mistake going with the 8V batt. It cost $130, the petronic ign cost almost double of a 6V and now I have to run 12V bulbs. The car is a 55 Chrysler just like the one that I had as a kid. I always had batt. problems then until I put two 6V batt. in paralle. I should have went with a 12V batt and a 56 Chrysler generator just like the factory did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LHazleton Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Guys, Thanks for all the help!One really dumb question; how do I know if it's a pos. or neg. ground?I've been told it could be either. The ammeter in the dash apparently doesn't work, so I can't watch that as I crank it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bob Call Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Flathead Ford V8'are positive ground unless someone changed it to negative ground. Hook it up positive ground and re-polarized the regulator. Instructions for polarization can be found on the internet. Search polarize battery or polarize regulator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LHazleton Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Thanks Bob. I'll do just that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Re; Daves comment "You do not have to use 12 volt bulbs. The 6 volt bulbs willwork fine on an 8 volt system; they do burn a bit brighter, but that iscertainly a plus." I must have bought a mess of cheep 6V Chineese bulbs as they burn out regulary, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Siegfried Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 Years back we were cleaning up cars for display at the AACA Museum prior to its opening. Must have found close to a dozen 8 volt batteries. All were dis-charged. I used the 12 volt starting method mentioned earlier. Figured it would work because once on a road trip with my 6 volt Karmann Ghia I temporally lost the battery when I flooded the engine. Fortunately I was sitting at a gas station, and the owner was still driving a 30tys flathead 8 Ford with volt electricals. He used a 12 volt jumper pack to start my engine. None of the Karmanns 6 volt components were damaged That was about 17 years ago. Sure was happy that I ran into him.Maybe this is something I should know. What is the difference between 12 volt and 6 volt battery cables?Here's another question. I have a starter booster installed on the Karmann. It was there when I bought the car in 1984. Have never removed it. A VW mechanic told me that this was a fix at VW dealerships to help out a lazy starter. Seems to me that a lazy starter is having problems with electrical current reaching it. Possibly a bad ground? The battery in a Karmann is grounded to the engine case by one of the generator stand nuts. I usually have to remove the ground cable once a year to clean up oil seepage where the cable attaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 The 12 volt cables are not as heavy as the 6 volt cables. The 6 volt cables have to be thicker because they have to carry more amps due to the lower voltage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rons49 Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 When you go to purchase cables demand 00( aka double ought). Many counter guys do not have a clue what you are talking about regarding that size. Have the length measurements ready for the NEGATIVE cable( positive grd) and I advise calling a battery supplier, or Y and Z wire or Rhode Island Wiring to have them make it up with the correct color and terminals. They also sell the braided ground. Avoid places like Batteries Plus. I didn't, and got welding cable inside the insulation and terminals instead of 00, as I requested. My Caddy was unforgiving for that.Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrbartlett Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 You can also get the heavy cables at auto supplies in industrial areas that have heavy 18-wheeler traffic. I typically see these cables offered in a variety of over-the-counter lengths, or the counter guys can make them in custom lengths to meet your need. See below for the cars I have that all start easily on the original 6-volt systems. The Locomobile has a 525-cubic-inch engine, the Duesenberg a 420-CI, the Packard a 385-CI, and the Auburn a 278-CI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vermontboy Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 NAPA used to carry 00 over the counter, might also try Tractor Supply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Oldengineer Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I got a 00 cable for my 48 Chevy last Summer at my local NAPA. Now she starts way better.Regards:Oldengineer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 When you go to purchase cables demand 00( aka double ought). Many counter guys do not have a clue what you are talking about regarding that size.RonNot just counter guys, most people in the world. I don't know why but when wire was first sized, like sheet metal, they used a "gauge" where the higher the number the smaller the wire so # 12 is good for 20 amps and #14 is good for 15 amps. When you get down to #1 it's good for 100 amps and #0 is 125. You can't go lower than "0" so you go to "00" which is rated for 150 amps. after 0000 they use circular mils but you don't have to worry about that. 12 volt battery cables might be #6 or #4 which is good for 55 amps or 70 amps respectively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest laddy Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I have used 8 volt batteries for years in my 6 volt positive ground cars. They turn right ovr and if I am in a noisey parking garage and can't hear the engine due to all the noise I don't have to worry I will only have one more shot at starting. I use a trickle charger made for 8 volt batteries when not on the road. It made an occasional vehicle into a no worry vehicle. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vermontboy Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 1930 Model A, 1950 Plymouth, 1951 Chevrolet - all daily drivers, all started regularly at minus 20 to minus 30 degrees with 6 volt batteries and 00 cables. Did have a bit of a problem with two of them at minus 42 one day - probably thick oil. The A started that day without a hitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Siegfried Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. There is a Tractor Supply close by, and I'll be stopping in soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalmoto Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 I guess that answers my question. A friend gave me a vintage battery charger. A huge one with 2 wheels, so you can roll it around like a handtruck. It says it can charge 6, 8, or 12 volt batteries at 60 AMPS, and has a 250 AMP boost for starting. Never heard of any car using an 8 volt battery before. Inside it has a huge transformer, a huge selenium rectifier and a fan. So, I assume it was made in the 1950's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 Pictures!😎 1950s or 60s, as 12v systems only became common around 1953-56 timeframe. Sounds like a pretty impressive machine and probably built for service station duty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonz Posted March 15, 2023 Share Posted March 15, 2023 (edited) Been driving my 26 Chrysler 50 for six months now and have run up a few hundred miles. I was convinced to buy an 8 volt battery by my retired auto eleccy with the promise I would get better starting power and brighter lights, which turned out to be true. He hand made my new 6 volt cables and redirected the positive connection to one of the bolts on the starter, and cleaned the contact points to clean shiny bare metal. Then he bench tested the generator and battery for an hour on a machine that spins the Genny as if it's running in the car. As it turns out my system runs so well I reckon it could have kept to the original 6 volts. Yes charging 8 volts was a problem for the first year while I was still building the car. Turns out the best charger to use now is actually driving the car! I tried 6, 12, and 12 with light bulbs in the circuit to make 10volts which was never really successful. That was until I acquired a solar panel battery charger for charging boat batteries. Perfect!!!! Not sure how it works but it does! Edited March 15, 2023 by Tonz (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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