Why are 6 volt systems positive ground?

[wheels528]

New to old tractors and just wondering why they are wired that way? Thanks,Paul

 

[Bruce (VA)]

When I started working on cars in the early 60's, one of the first things you looked at was polarity. It was just a given: is it positive or negative ground? Didn't matter if it was 6v or 12v. My 12v 1950 MG is positive ground. The Model T was negative ground; in 1928, Henry Ford started producing the Model A which was positive ground. And Fords remained positive ground until 1956. Chevy's were always negative ground.

And, by 1956, nearly all cars were negative ground because of alternators & transistors in the radios.

This is one of the better articles I've read over the years explaining the reasons for positive or negative ground:

https://mgaguru.com/mgtech/electric/et098.htm
75 Tips

 

[duey]

One might also ask: Which way/direction does current flow? Neg to Pos or Pos to Neg? And THEN ask yourself, is that INSIDE the battery or Outside of it...

Me, I try not to think about it...

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

The late sparkie-meister Dell always said, "...without getting too technical positive ground provided a better current to the spark plugs -where it was needed when cranking over...". That being said, there is more to a 6V system than just having a 6V battery. If a system isn't correctly wired, regardless whether it is 6V/POS GND or 12V/NEG GND, there will be issues of non-starting/non-running. A lot of wiring jobs are done incorrectly, mostly with 12V conversions. There's nothing wrong with 12V if done for the right reasons. A big mistake many fellers make is attempting a 12V switch over job when they have trouble with their 6V system not starting. If it ain't starting on 6V,it ain't gonna start on 12V. 99.98% of non-starting issues are due to incorrect wiring jobs whether 6V or 12V. By the same token, there is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping your Ford as the OEM 6V/POS GND either. Any system needs to be properly maintained. The 6-VOLT MANTRA is: CLEAN, BRIGHT, and TIGHT.

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 08:59:05 09/25/18) The late sparkie-meister Dell always said, "...without getting too technical positive ground provided a better current to the spark plugs -where it was needed when cranking over...".

Commonly said and commonly misunderstood. It has nothing to do with current to the plugs - it is an issue of a heated cathode versus anode and the energy needed to get electrons to jump from one to the other. In an automotive spark ignition system it's value is so small as to be inconsequential. That said, as long as you reverse the polarity at the battery AND at the coil absolutely nothing changes at the spark plugs (cathode/anode) and there is [b:2f63df1442]ZERO[/b:2f63df1442] difference.

TOH

 

[souNdguy]

I used to save words and just tell people thermionic emission, or 'edison effect'.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 12:51:51 09/25/18) I used to save words and just tell people thermionic emission, or 'edison effect'.

think it is better to be 'positive' than to be uncertain. Clean, bright & tight........so I'm positive that I have a good negative ground system.

 

[notjustair]

The generator in my 54 Chevy grain truck gave out.
Since I had just bought a new battery I purchased a
six volt alternator. I sure love it. Everything on it
works just fine with six volts but I get the
advantages of an alternator.

 

[Jim WI]

(quoted from post at 18:26:53 09/24/18) One might also ask: Which way/direction does current flow? Neg to Pos or Pos to Neg? And THEN ask yourself, is that INSIDE the battery or Outside of it...

Me, I try not to think about it...

And then ask if it's conventional current flow or electron current flow...

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 20:06:24 09/25/18)

(quoted from post at 18:26:53 09/24/18) One might also ask: Which way/direction does current flow? Neg to Pos or Pos to Neg? And THEN ask yourself, is that INSIDE the battery or Outside of it...

Me, I try not to think about it...

And then ask if it's conventional current flow or electron current flow...

Truly the quintessential Mother of all notational errors....

TOH