MTFCA Forum

We have had considerable discussion about 6 vs 12 volts and alternators vs generators. I may have a solution. I was watching a Jay Leno's Garage segment on Youtube; the segment was about Jay's '53 Hudson. He showed that he had replaced the old 6 Volt generator with a 6 Volt alternator. It looked like a single-wire GM unit. Jay mentioned that 6V alternators were available from several sources. I was doing a quick looksee to find a source and found an article about them, I was right on the GM, and they are available as single-wire and three-wire for about $145. The seller uses eBay, but the person who wrote the article didn't say anything bad about the seller. FWIW: The buyer was putting the alternator on his Trabant(!). IMHO the whole car isn't worth $145, but to each his own...

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Huh??????????

Humblej wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 06, 2023 9:22 am

Huh??????????

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"" FWIW: The buyer was putting the alternator on his Trabant(!). IMHO the whole car isn't worth $145, but to each his own...""

We have to remember that today the Trabant may not be worth $145.00, and at one time a Model T was being sold for $5.00. In 1930 $5.00 is $90.00 today and 1940 that increases to $109.00. And today the $5.00 Model T is worth $91.00. We have come full circle.

Is it worth putting a $145.00 alternator on a Model T?

Been Here Before wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 06, 2023 10:06 am

"" FWIW: The buyer was putting the alternator on his Trabant(!). IMHO the whole car isn't worth $145, but to each his own...""

We have to remember that today the Trabant may not be worth $145.00, and at one time a Model T was being sold for $5.00. In 1930 $5.00 is $90.00 today and 1940 that increases to $109.00. And today the $5.00 Model T is worth $91.00. We have come full circle.

Is it worth putting a $145.00 alternator on a Model T?

Yes. The Model T is a great car as evidenced by it's sales and staying power. The Trabant has a rear window defroster to keep your hands warm while you are pushing it. Truly a car that you couldn't give me (and I like small low-powered cars).

Been Here Before wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 06, 2023 10:06 am

"" FWIW: The buyer was putting the alternator on his Trabant(!). IMHO the whole car isn't worth $145, but to each his own...""

We have to remember that today the Trabant may not be worth $145.00, and at one time a Model T was being sold for $5.00. In 1930 $5.00 is $90.00 today and 1940 that increases to $109.00. And today the $5.00 Model T is worth $91.00. We have come full circle.

Is it worth putting a $145.00 alternator on a Model T?

Yes, it is worth it for an alternator when it keeps you from having to deal with a cutout going bad and taking out your generator while it catches your vehicle on fire, if you don't have catch it bad cutout while its smoking/burning out.
I prefer to be period correct except for when it comes to safety items and in my opinion the alternator is a safety upgrade over the cutouts.

Adding an alternator to a model T is a bit redundant.

As the Model T already has a current producing generator/alternator. A magneto and an alternator both produce alternating current AC. The magneto produces current by having rotating magnets near a fixed position set of coils. An alternator produces alternating current by having a set of rotating coil adjacent to a set of fixed magnets.

As Henry and Tom were friends and they had the mechanical genius of Huff, with a little more time at the drafting table, the Model T could have had Edison storage batteries charged by Huff's magneto.

Period advertisement indicate companies were offering a form of rectifiers to convert AC current to DC current to charge batteries, and even provide suitable current to provide lighting. The description was a small wooden box that was connected to the magneto, with a lead from the box to the battery.

As early as 1899/1901,there was a patent for a liquid rectifier.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US672913A/en

Possibly, as with some other devices, Henry wanted to save money, and not add this feature to his car.

I constructed a similar device, and have to say, passing alternating current through the liquid rectifier does produce direct current.

Of course there are even less complicated magneto chargers using a tail light bulb and solid state device.

So, maybe there is nothing wrong with an upgrade and redundancy.

To Been here before - I agree unless the flywheel magneto has given up the ghost or the car has been modified with a distributor. My OP was simply to inform anyone who didn't already know (I include myself in that group) that a 6 Volt alternator is available. I have no intention of retrofitting my T with one at this point; both the mag and the generator are working fine as of today.

A belt driven 6V alternator could offer the opportunity to save some weight and have more and better regulated wattage available.

Add alternator, remove generator, use red top battery, remove battery carrier.

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 07, 2023 11:41 am

A belt driven 6V alternator could offer the opportunity to save some weight and have more and better regulated wattage available.

Add alternator, remove generator, use red top battery, remove battery carrier.

How do you have your red top mounted?

Alternator vs Generator - 6v vs 12v - what are the problems to be solved?
-extra kick to a weak starter
-lack of a Voltage regulator, concern of charging/over charging a battery
-driving at night with filament lights for more than 2 hours
-needing to output more than 8amps
-no magneto
-6v bulbs harder to find
-expense of a battery minder and/or no electric outlet in the garage .

'27 roadster has red top battery lying on its side under the seat. It has caused no problems.

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