Partial 12V Conversion, retained 6V dynamo and starter

[Scarboroughseadog]

My new TEA20 was not charging its battery, so I took off the 6V dynamo which turned out to be shot. I got it fixed and correctly polarised (positive earth).
I then looked at the rest of the system, and all the parts (battery, regulator, coil, sparks) are 12V except for the dynamo and starter. She works fine, exept for the charging issue. Dynamo to go back on but I beleive:

6V starter will probably last for years before burn out, she starts easily. It sometimes over spins and disengages from the flywheel if she doesnt start- is that beacuse it is spinning fast due to 12V? Only happens when starting a hot engine.

6V dynamo will not charge the 12v battery very effectively, and may get hot trying to charge an empty 12V battery.

Is that right?

 

[Bob (Aust)]

Old Salt

The day you hoist your jib to the Mizzen and main sail to the bow sprit will be the day your 6 volt generator will work with a 12 volt system. :lol:

You simple can't add a 6 volt generator to a 12 volt electrical system!

You will also eventually burn out the 6 volt starter with a 12 volt battery, especially if the old girl is hard to start and you grind it over for any length of time.

What are your options?

1. A 12 volt Lucas generator off a later model TEA20 may fit? I think physically they are the same? After market 12 volt generators are relatively cheap from Sparex or BareCo. The Sparex part number for a 12 volt, 11 amp generator for a TEA20 is S.43109. I think you will also need the regulator part number S.65582.

2. I've heard an auto electrician can convert a 6 volt generator to 12 volts but have no idea of the cost or whether it is economically feasible. You will still need the 12 regulator.

3. Fit a 12 volt alternator. There are reasonably priced kits available.

4. Go back to 6 volts all around. There is nothing wrong with 6 volt electrics - it was quite common on US and British vehicles right up to the 1950s. But you do need very heavy battery leads and good, clean electrical connections.

Bob in Oz
'53 TEA20

 

[Tony in Mass.]

Shiver me timbers Bob! You've got me daydreaming about Capin Baines and the Charlotte Rhodes... too bad I already shaved this morning.. I would start growing big bushy sideburns.
Yah, ahem- I mean.. aye... a 6 volt limited to 7 or 8 isn't going to make 13 in this hemisphere either, but I have a couple Delco Remi generators on fergies that make 32-34 volts, and the auto electric repairman said that was common, and no harm if the voltage regulator is working well. I suppose an original Lucus would be lucky to make 5 & 3/4?
I also have a 'one wire' alternator that makes 110 volts... which is household current here, so that one is salted away for a different (Y3K) project... did I say salt?
Avast! Almost 4 bells! Got to stand watch now.... that is all. carry on...

 

[Bob (Aust)]

Tony, me hearty!

You're welcome to join my scurvy crew!! I saw you supervised assembling that Fergy in around 30 minutes, so you can join me as Chief Engineer!!

Think you can take good care of this pair of Chevy small block V8's?



Capt Bob surveys captured pirate territory:



:lol: :lol:

Bob in Oz
'53 TEA20
'98 Sea Ray 290DA Sundancer

 

[TimFranktown]

Thank you all for celebrating "Talk like a pirate" day
International Talk Like a Pirate Day

 

[Tony in Mass.]

Really? Trouble with Tasman waters... if you fall overboard, if the sharks don't get ya, the jellyfish will... my ol kiwi boss told me that.
Remember when I tore into the CAV pump for the 23C? I found the kit in a shop on the Gulf of Mexico. The parts man said 'oh, we sell a lot of CAV and 23C parts down here, a lot of Standard engines power the fishing boats around here'... made me want to become a vegetarian....

 

[Bob (Aust)]

"Talk like a pirate day"!!! I like that! :lol:

The Standard diesel was so good that Ferguson installed Perkins diesels in the P3 and later MF tractors.

Sharks aren't a problem. Cops on jet skis with breathalizers are a problem. My Sea Ray will outrun our Navy Patrol Boats but not the pesky Police jet skis.

You have too many Kiwis in the USA as well (aside from my Kiwi son-in-law in Houston)?

We have far too many Kiwis here in Australia, they undermine our Australian - New Zealand bitter rivalry in sport.

New Zealand, the land of 70 million sheep, 3 million also get to vote.

Kiwis, proof that Tasmanian's can swim!

Sorry, just a couple of our Antipodean jokes!

:lol: