6 or 12 Volt?

[Gregory K Soderberg]

My wd-45 has been changed from a generator to an alternator and has a coil that says "6 Volt" with a ceramic resistor. Does this make it a 12 volt system? Can I or should I change the 6 volt coil to a 12 volt and remove the resistor?

 

[old]

99% of the time an alternator is in fact a 12 volt system. As for the coil if i works like it is don't fix it because again 99% of the time if it isn't broke it will be when you try to change things. I have heard of 5 volt alternator but have yet to even see on in the 30 plus years I have played with tractors

 

[dej(Jed)]

(quoted from post at 19:24:45 06/28/11) My wd-45 has been changed from a generator to an alternator and has a coil that says "6 Volt" with a ceramic resistor. Does this make it a 12 volt system? Can I or should I change the 6 volt coil to a 12 volt and remove the resistor?

A resistor on a 6 volt coil will reduce the voltage by 50%. You are feeding 3 volts to the points.

 

[John T]

First of all, does it have a 6 or 12 volt battery??????????????????????????

Id guess its a 12 since you mentioned an alternator (most are 12 but a 6 can be built) PLUS it sounds like you have a 6 volt coil WITH AN EXTERNAL BALLAST Those combined SURE SOUNDS LIKE ITS A 12 VOLT SYSTEM...

NOW if it is indeed a 12 volt system you can EITHER use a 6 volt coil PLUS the external series voltage dropping (12 to 6) Ballast Resistor ORRRRRRRRRRRR toss the ballast and use a 12 volt coil NO BALLAST REQUIRED. But if the coil and ballast are working okay and its a 12 volt battery,,,,,, I see no reason to change

John T

 

[steve(ill)]

john is right
--most alternators are 12 volts
--resistor on a 6 volt coil means the battery was 12 volt
--you can get a 12 volt coil if you wish
--most 12 volt alternators are NEGATIVE ground.

 

[steve(ill)]

john is right
--most alternators are 12 volts
--resistor on a 6 volt coil means the battery was 12 volt
--you can get a 12 volt coil if you wish
--most 12 volt alternators are NEGATIVE ground.

 

[David G]

I think there is an advantage in leaving the ballast resistor in place and using a bypass wire to give the coil 12V on starting. You would not get that with a straight 12V coil.

 

[Anonymous-0]

David G,
Is the bypass wire you speak of one of the two wires going to the ballast resistor?
Thanks!