For you 6v guys, where do you buy your 6v truck batteries and what cca do you use for the flathead v8?

 

I installed a Optima Red Top 6v battery in place of a 8v lead acid battery from PO. Cranks the V8 just fine, and I don't have to worry about blowing out the lights.

Currently my truck is not charging, need to pull the generator out for testing/repair. But I can drive around for a couple days without issue, not like the truck uses a lot of electricity. I recharge with a 6 volt 2 amp charger, I read the Optima batteries don''t like to be charged too quickly.

The Optima battery is rated at 800CCA at 0 degrees F.

 

I switched over to the Optima red top 5 years ago


Ed

 

CCA is important of course, but it gets way too much attention in some ways. I see also by your profile you are in Florida, not particularly known for brutally cold weather generally ha ha. A rule of thumb is one (1) CCA for every cu. in. Most OEM batteries exceed this by a good bit already.

Assuming you are still using the generator means that reserve minutes are also an important factor in battery selection. The high CCA batteries attain their cold cranking ability at the expense of this due to more and thinner plates. They are also more prone to physical damage due to breakage.

The largest, heaviest AGM that will fit would be a good choice. The reason for this is unlike alternators, generators do not charge at all at idle RPMs and are therefore disconnected by the regulator cutout to prevent backfeed.

So the truck is completely dependent on the battery during those periods, for all the ignition, lights and any accessories like the heater or radio, so it has to be bigger in capacity than an equivalently sized battery used in an alternator system. Also average generator set point charging voltages are higher on average than an alternator system. AGM should handle this well as well as any deeper discharges better than a standard lead-acid "maintenance free" batt.

 

My F 3 is stock with the flat 8 and I am using a Napa Commercial # 7244 with 640CCA.
Works well though I don't often run it in the winter!

 

Running same battery and mine is fine. It will start even in cold just fine. I thought I had a battery and battery cable issue until I rebuilt my starter.

JB

 

I buy my 6 volt batteries from the same place I get my generator, starter, etc rebuilt. A local small businessman, good service and I trust him. The first battery I bought from him lated 10 years. My current one is now in its 6th year.

 

I can only assume that is a rule for 12v batteries and modern permanent-magnet starters. Flathead starters draw a max of 550 amps (at 6v) according to the manual.

 

That very well could be, I always forget to make the conversions when dealing with six volts, it's getting to be pretty rare anymore outside a few odd cranks and curmudgeons. Think the point holds though, generator equipped trucks need a big heavy battery, but not all of the juice should be tied up in the maximum CCA possible.

 

The Optima red top 6 volt (8010-044) weighs in at 18.5 pounds and costs $113 shipped

 

cranks and curmudgeons???? I prefer "purists" and/or "historical automobile preservationists".

 

I prefer that or people that just like their truck

 

Sorry fellas. I was just joshing around. A little. Mostly. Sorry if I offended any of you positive-ground nutcases.

 

So are you now saying we nutcases have loose screws?

I think you may be onto something there...

 

Pretty soon the 12v/(-) guys will be the curmudgeons, as they shift new cars to 48v...