Awhile back I posted here about voltage regulator adjustment in able to use an 8V battery in place of the 6 volt. Since there was not a definitive answer I thought I would write my experience so that others might benefit.
This car is not mine but rather one I was fixing for a local owner. The 8V battery had been installed sometime ago. The system worked but the battery frequently run down. I traced the problem to a VR in which the cutout relay was sticking and discharging the battery through the generator. I ordered a replacement through NAPA and after one false start I found the new VR didn't do anything when installed and the enginer running. I had polarized etc but to no avail. Measuring the armature voltage and field voltage I found the field was working but the armature only put out 7.7v. Of course the 8V battery could not bec charged without a generator output higher. But how to adjust the voltage on a regulator without screws. I was fortunate to find an older gentleman that had worked for the NAPA store but was now retired. He had repaired many a generator and VR. He advised that the spring mount on the Voltage coil had to be bend downward ever so slightly to bring the voltage up. Using my digital Voltmeter to measure, I bent the spring tang slightly downward to get the voltage up. He also advised that for this system to work properly this voltage needs to be about 9V when the battery is fully charged and the engine running. There are three coils in the VR. The proper coil for this adjustment is the one located adjacent to the field terminal.
Of course there are negatives to using the 8V battery. Shortened bulb life being most notable.
Hope this is of help.
This car is not mine but rather one I was fixing for a local owner. The 8V battery had been installed sometime ago. The system worked but the battery frequently run down. I traced the problem to a VR in which the cutout relay was sticking and discharging the battery through the generator. I ordered a replacement through NAPA and after one false start I found the new VR didn't do anything when installed and the enginer running. I had polarized etc but to no avail. Measuring the armature voltage and field voltage I found the field was working but the armature only put out 7.7v. Of course the 8V battery could not bec charged without a generator output higher. But how to adjust the voltage on a regulator without screws. I was fortunate to find an older gentleman that had worked for the NAPA store but was now retired. He had repaired many a generator and VR. He advised that the spring mount on the Voltage coil had to be bend downward ever so slightly to bring the voltage up. Using my digital Voltmeter to measure, I bent the spring tang slightly downward to get the voltage up. He also advised that for this system to work properly this voltage needs to be about 9V when the battery is fully charged and the engine running. There are three coils in the VR. The proper coil for this adjustment is the one located adjacent to the field terminal.
Of course there are negatives to using the 8V battery. Shortened bulb life being most notable.
Hope this is of help.
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