VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt 8 volt battery

Eight volt batteries previously mentioned in these forums. Are they available? Recommended?

Not recommended. Fix any issues that make you want one.

What issues are making you want one?

J Franklin - nuff said - thanks.
No real issues. Just comments about some of the bulbs being too dim.

Depending on the bulb there may be brighter options.

Not sure what vehicle you have. Most 6 volt systems operate at about 7.5 volts when the generator is working properly.

In order to properly charge an 8 volt battery the system needs to operate at over 9 volts. That is pretty hard on 6 volt bulbs.

Tiny is correct that there are some higher candlepower 6 volt bulbs readily available.

stay 6v :)
previous owner of my 1929 did 8v battery, was great for starting but if you left electronics as they were you had to charge battery every few times as generator would not charge it as set. and as Rusty noted if you bumped it up to be able to charge it you would typically blow out the bulbs or have to put an inline insulator/ voltage reducer for them. owner said he ran it with all lights on and never an issue, but always had lights on :!

i swapped 8v out for an optima red 6v. and that thing is a beast, it spins harder than the 8v and charges fine on the stock system. it also last a lot longer then a typical lead acid. cost a little more but worth every penny.

i also recently swapped out most of hte incandescent for LEDS and much brighter. you can get the LEDS in the same K rating so they have that warm yellow glow !!

My experience with LED headlights is not printable, most other lights convert quite well.
Tony

I read your post about the Optima battery install and how great it works. I've been a fan of Optima for a long while and think they're great. I saw several Optima 6 volt options, just wondered which one you are using. I also read there's a cover for the Optima that makes it look vintage...do you know what that is? Thanks in advance.

Jerry

There is only 1 6v Optima out there, not sure what options you saw ??

https://www.optimabatteries.com/products/redtop-6v



as for covers, we were just talking bout this in another section of the VCCA

The Optima red Top 6 volt is the only way to go. The starter in my 32 spins the engine over like the 12 volt in my newer cars. Early last year last year after 11 years I replaced the first Optima with a new one. The Optima's cost about twice as much as a traditional 6 V but they last twice as long. Best upgrade I ever did.

I guess I'll have to be the devil's advocate. I'm personally not a big fan of the Optima. I bought one soon after I obtained my 38. It did OK cranking the car but I had nothing to compare it to. When it was 4-5 years old I arrived at a fall tour and when I went to unload the 38 from the trailer it was dead. Dead as dead can be. I put a house brand 6v from a near by parts house in the car to get me through the tour. Although it was just a bit over half the rated CCA as the Optima it cranked just as well. I got about 5 years out of it. IMHO, if you have properly sized cables with clean connections you don't need a battery that puts out ten times the amps your car actually uses. I have other places to use that money.

It's nice to "Spin" the Engine like a 12 volt but if the Engine is properly tuned it does not have to spin long or fast. I've started my Engines with 12 volt battery charger but there is no need if it's "Tuned" correctly. And it doesn't make since to spend twice as much for a battery that lasts twice as long. Maybe if it lasted three or four times longer, but not twice. Just a thought.