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+--- Thread: Car battery question, 8 volt battery (/showthread.php?tid=21522)
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Car battery question, 8 volt battery - Maddog - 10-30-2006
I noted the previous car battery question and thought I would ask one of my own. I have a 51 GMC truck that has an 8V electrical system, and I need to charge/jump the now dead battery. Does anyone know if you can use the usual jumping procedure from a 12V (regular) car without doing damage to the 8V system?
Re: Car battery question, 8 volt battery - Ken Sp. - 10-30-2006
You might be careful---I think some older cars had a positive ground rather than a negative ground.
Re: Car battery question, 8 volt battery - Maddog - 10-30-2006
How would one tell that?
Re: Car battery question, 8 volt battery - olnacl - 10-30-2006
See if the larger + terminal on the battery goes to the frame or engine rather than to the starter.
Back in the day, we jumped 6V cars with 12V. Be sure to turn off any 6V accessories (radio, lights, etc). I doubt they would be any harm done to the starter motor. Otherwise, why not just push it to start?
Re: Car battery question, 8 volt battery - Filliam H. Muffman - 10-30-2006
8V? I know of 6V...
I would not jump it with a 12 Volt system. You are likely to burn out the starter and all the instruments and bulbs in the truck.
Re: Car battery question, 8 volt battery - Tofer - 10-30-2006
I agree...very bad idea. I'd ask the question on a classic truck/car forum and see what normally gets done in that case. I, too, haven't heard of an 8V setup before (but I have heard of 6V systems).
-Tofer
Re: Car battery question, 8 volt battery - Maddog - 10-30-2006
I understand the confusion with the 8V system. The guy I bought the truck from had restored the electrical to its originals specs which is 8V. Why he would do that instead of the much more standard 12V system is a real question. Some people would argue for autheticity, but it is not that kind of restoration project.
Re: Car battery question, 8 volt battery - Racer X - 10-30-2006
8 volts was common back then on industrial type stuff. Also, many older marine systems were 32v, and they used 4 8V batteries.
Re: Car battery question, 8 volt battery - Panopticon - 10-30-2006
Jump start ONLY with an equivalent 8V* or a well charged 6V Deep-Cycle battery, like a T105.
*Redundant because if you HAD an 8V battery, you could just replace the dead one.
Re: Car battery question, 8 volt battery - modelamac - 10-31-2006
12V was not used in 1951, It was 6V or 8V. 12V did not become the standard until around 1955-1957.
I believe the 51 GMC has a negative ground.