6 or 12 volt system?
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 309
Likes: 9
From: Northern IL
6 or 12 volt system?
Can anybody tell me any easy way to figure out whether I have the old 6 volt or a 12 volt system on my 55 f100. I bought the truck non-running, no battery in it, and the straight six appears to be rebuilt so I don't know if it was converted. It did have a cobra brand cassette/ radio in it, but don't know the Volts on it. Any ideas?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,363
Likes: 76
From: Utah
Does the engine have an newer looking "alternator" on it? Of course I've seen the original looking generators on flatheads that have a painted stamp on them that say 12v so that's not always easy.
Look at the starter solenoid , 6 volts will have only 1 small terminal on front while 12 v will have 2 small terminal studs on front. This is in addition to the larger battery cable terminals on each side. On 52 earlier the solenoid is mounted on firewall passenger side above engine, on 55 I'm not sure? Maybe on frame rail or something since the battery is in the floor right?
May be other ways to know like maybe check the coil and see if it says 6 or 12? On it or if there is a voltage drop in line?
Look at the starter solenoid , 6 volts will have only 1 small terminal on front while 12 v will have 2 small terminal studs on front. This is in addition to the larger battery cable terminals on each side. On 52 earlier the solenoid is mounted on firewall passenger side above engine, on 55 I'm not sure? Maybe on frame rail or something since the battery is in the floor right?
May be other ways to know like maybe check the coil and see if it says 6 or 12? On it or if there is a voltage drop in line?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,352
Likes: 1
From: Waleska, GA
If it has a "modern" alternator, I'd assume it's 12 V. Does it have a voltage regulator(I'd assume it does)? If so, run the part # through Google. It might even say 6 or 12V on it?
I was going to just tell you to hook up 12 V and if things start blowing, then it was 6 V.
^^^^^^Man, I'm going to have to work on my typing speed. I keep getting beaten by a few minutes while I'm still hammering away(shrug).^^^^^^^^^^
I was going to just tell you to hook up 12 V and if things start blowing, then it was 6 V.
^^^^^^Man, I'm going to have to work on my typing speed. I keep getting beaten by a few minutes while I'm still hammering away(shrug).^^^^^^^^^^
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