Generator or Alternator for T

[BLB27]

Should I use a generator or an alternator on my 1927 T?

[speedytinc]

Should I use a generator or an alternator on my 1927 T?

GENERATOR!!!!!!

[Moxie26]

Alternator

[JBog]

Alternator. I have one and it saves your battery and the new ones aren't reported to fail.

[Norman Kling]

Well! Here we go againk. If you are using a 6 volt starter, the generator is original equipment, and if you get a good one, it will perform the job just fine. You don't need a voltage regulator unless you do a lot of night driving. Even then you can set the generator to provide 0 amps or slightly more with the lights on. Then for short distances in daylight leave the lights off. If going a long way, during daylight, leave the lights on.
If you drive mostly during daylight hours, set the generator for 2 to 5 amps and the short distances with lights on, will cause no problems. If you are using a distributor, they can be had with a 6 volt coil and will work fine on 6 volt battery. If you do choose to run 12 volts, you can actually set the generator to charge 12 volts. However if you use 12 volts, you should use a starter wound for 12 volts because even though a 6 volt starter will work on 12 volts, it is very hard on the bendix and starter ring gear.

I have seen many cars break down on tours because of using an alternator. They are manufactured with a fan behind the pulley, but when you remove the pulley and install a gear, the alternator will overheat. They are also known for losing the gear In that case if you want to continue the tour you will need a block out place for the hole where the gear is located so you won't lose your oil.

You will get many disagreeing opinions. Mine is from observation.
Norm

[Scott_Conger]

A rebuilt generator from a supplier (not a generator rebuilt with rustoleum on eBay) will probably outlast you. If you purchase the "best quality" generator, it will be a correct, antique , stock item on an antique vehicle that is fully rebuilt with entirely remanufactured "guts". It will recharge your battery reliably and do the job for which it was intended, in the fashion for which it was designed.

If you are running halogen lights which draw an enormous amount of current, or are pulling a fully lit Mardi Gras float, then an alternator is for you. It will look just like the one in your Subaru and will be a modern wart on an otherwise (I assume) antique car. The amperage that it will be able to put out will test your wiring and point out any weak spots.

To each their own, but I always wonder what the point was to buying a 100 year old car, only to immediately modify it and additionally, encourage a newer owner to scrap those things which make it an antique in the first place. For me, personally, the biggest "downer" is to lift the hood of a T and see something so obviously out of place as a modern alternator. It makes me wonder what other hidden "improvements" and various landmines exist in the vehicle with which to trap the hapless mechanic.

[DickC]

Lets talk about oil or how about the use of MMO!!!!!!!!

[TXGOAT2]

When your clutch starts dragging on cold mornings, add some Marvel Mystery Oil! If you really want an alternator, get one for an old Datsun and mount it on the left side of the engine and run it with a V-belt. WARNING! Alternators emit invisible, odorless, colorless radio frequency energy that will attract the attention of any Ancient Aliens who may be passing through our galaxy. Check recent UFO sightings before operating any antique car that has been fitted with an alternator. If you are attacked by Ancient Aliens, spray them with Marvel Mystery Oil. It will incapacitate them and you can then sieze their space ship and sell it on Vroom!

[Steve Jelf]

To each their own, but I always wonder what the point was to buying a 100 year old car, only to immediately modify it and additionally, encourage a newer owner to scrap those things which make it an antique in the first place.

Hear, hear!
There's a guy in one of the Facebook Model T groups who always tells new owners the first thing they should do is convert to twelve volts.

[TXGOAT2]

FWIW, the best and most reliable systems I've ever had have been 6 volt systems with a generator.

[speedytinc]

Let us not forget during our dead horse beating that a generator can be used to charge 12V if you must abuse your original starter or 8V for a way to mask a weak starter. For 12V usage, 1/2 the amp output to about 4 amps.
Butter! Parkay!

[TRDxB2]

Should I use a generator or an alternator on my 1927 T?

Related issues have to do with battery recharging (Voltage Regulator availability), headlight brightness, power duration, starter power and modern accessories being 12 volts
--
The base electrical load for headlights (high beam), tail lights and coils doesn't require more than what can be provided by Model T generator. Alternators became a popular solution for owners wanting brighter headlights when halogen was the only option.
--
Driving on battery alone --- a battery's Ah value, not CCA, is how long you can run on a fully charge battery. Coils take very little so limited the calculation to lights 10amps for 6v filaments and 5 amps for led or 12v filaments. as an approximation a 100Ah/10amps = 10 hours
--
So the choice may be to switch to LED's since their amperage demand is about half that of standard filament bulbs and keep the generator versus incurring the expense of converting to an alternator capable of providing 20-30 amps for a 6volt or 12volt.
--
Different volts for different folks

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Generator.

I have 4 T's, all with generators. None of the generators have ever been rebuilt but have gotten new bearings, brushes, insulators and turned commutators. Maybe once or twice I had to replace an insulator, (when I wrongly guessed that the original ones looked good enough), but have never had a true failure.

BTW: 6V and 8 - 10 Amp charge rate.

[Humblej]

Generator and stock 6 volt system is best way to go. Worked for Henry, worked for 100 years, will work for another 100 years.

[Gonenorth]

You can go either way. I had a 6v generator and then changed it out for an 6v alternator on my '26. Personally, I don't like the look of alternator on a Model T. But I had halogen headlights and tails. Once I switch out the halogens for LED's, I had no more need for the extra amps. So I went back to the generator. I set it at 8 amps and with the Regan regulator on it I never worry about over-charging. And I really like the look of what was on the car when it rolled off the production line

[TWrenn]

Alternator! Alternator! Alternator! Do what you want really! But, seriously, since I put an alternator on Stanley, my '25 Fordor, I've never been happier! And the stock headlamps are BRIGHT now!!

[Rich Bingham]

Tim, I can't decide if you've gone to the dark side, or "seen the light"
I guess a "purist leopard" can change his spots after all !!

[TRDxB2]

Tim, I can't decide if you've gone to the dark side, or "seen the light"
I guess a "purist leopard" can change his spots after all !!

The purist position always applies but if the T is not being driven at night there isn't any need to change anything.
If there is a concern about the battery being overcharged because of the lack of a VR, all one has to do is to turn the switch to DIM or Bright to just have the ammeter a bit on the positive side.