Running a 12 volt hydraulic pump on 6 volts????

[wilsonsk]

Anyone ever tried running a 12 volt hydraulic pump set-up on 6 volts? I picked up a Western snow plow and want to hang it on my loader, wondering if the it would lift and turn the plow running on 6 volts. This will ultimately push me into converting, but just thinking short term, will it work? I understand that it will basically run at half speed, half power, but will the pump generate enough pressure to work?
 

[old]

It may work for a short time but at half the volts the motor will draw more amps and that in turn will cause it to burn it self out so for what it would cost to replace that pump is it worth it??? If nothing else set a 12 volt battery some place on the machine just to run that hyd pump and be on the safe side. A full charged 12 volt battery will last for hours on that set up
 

[glennster]

ohh....i'd add a 12v one wire alternator on either the belt pulley or the pto and he could charge the battery too!!!
 

[old]

One wire heck no those things cost twice what a 3 wire does and it would be simple to just add a switch to turn the alternator on but since he did say he might be going to 12 volts why bother with an alternator or do it right
 

[wilsonsk]

thanks for all of the good info, if there is a chance of burning up the pump, I won't try it. I have a Ford alternator just need a voltage regulator, battery, coil and the time to do it. I may just hang the blade on the bucket so I can move some snow. thanks for the help.
 

[old]

Shoot for around $50 you can buy an Delco alternator for say a 1980 Chev pick up no power any thing and that is a simple 3 wire hook up and then you do not have to mess with an external V.R which are a pain in the back sides any how
 

[glennster]

Years ago they used to have a small 110volt generator tthat. Mounted to a car or truck engine like an alternator. It was all self contained, it would run a drill or skilsaw. Was a pretty handy deal. Would like to find one of them .
 

[old]

Ya no all that common any more. A good many of those where DC so would run a drill etc but not things like a radio etc
 

[wilsonsk]

I agree the GM alternator is probably a better choice, but I have the Ford alternator and a VR is $15. I may as well use it. Need a coil and battery either way.
 

[old]

You do not have to replace the coil all you do is add a ballast resister between the ignition switch and the coil O'Reilly's part number VR-1 works well and can be mounted to a thin piece of metal so as to have a heat sink and it cost less then $5
 

[wilsonsk]

I thought I needed a ballast resistor (or coil with an internal resistor) and a 12V coil vs 6V coil. Either way, it's probably a horse apiece, a 12v coil with internal resistor is $9.99, and I should put a new on on anyway.
 

[old]

No such thing as a coil with an internal resister. The 12 volt coils are wound different so as to be a true 12 volt coil due to higher resistance in the way they are wound
 

[LJD]

It will overheat it and eventually burn it up. 12 volts to a 6 volt pump is fine. Not the other way around.
 

[LJD]

I buy brand new self-excite "one wire" regulators the same price as conventional. About $11 either way.
 

[LJD]

Sure there is. All coils have internal resistors - i.e. the windings. A coil sold as not needing an external ballast resistor for a 12 volt system simply has the equivalent of the the external ballast resistor windings rolled into the internals.

Outside or inside - it's still a bunch of small wire windings to create resistance.

Regardless if a "6 volt" coil with separate resistor outside, or a "12 volt coil" with no outside coil of wire or carbon resistor wire (like GM and Deere use sometimes) - it will all total somewhere around 3-4 ohms on the primary.