Hi, I could not find if my post from a few days ago got into our system or not, so I am putting my question out there again. I have a 1950 Commodore 8 . Using a 9 volt battery I am able to get all the lights to work after rewiring. On low beam there is no problem. But on high beam after the headlights have warmed up, they and the signal lights go out. Ten seconds later they come back up and all works for 20 seconds when they go out again. This does not occur when I use a 6 volt battery, even with the high beams on. Is it safe to try and change the circuit breaker under the dash or just accept the 6 volt for what it is and run with much dimmer lights but ones that do not go dark on me? Thanks, Gary
There is a circuit breaker in the headlight switch. You should put a relay in the headlight circuit to take the load off of the H/Lp switch.
Thank you Tom, I will get under the dash and have a look. Any recomendation as to type or brand? Ive had good luck at my local auto parts store though the younger guys behind the counter they always scratch their head. But they will track it down if I can give them as much info as possible. This has been helpful, thanks
I have had good luck with the Echlin HR 300 in my 6 volt system. I don't know if NAPA sells them anymore, but they are often on ebay as N.O.S.
Fit a relay and throw the 9 volt battery away.
Agreed! Unless someone went through the whole car and re-engineered it for 9 volts, I'd get back to the 6-volt system. But if you're going to change over, go to 12 volts as many have, and be sure to carefully modify the entire system, like the starter.
Really, if you are using the correct gauge wiring (big, thick battery cable for example), and grounding everything correctly, you should have no troubles. And (as Geoff suggests) use a headlight relay, which will route the power directly to the lights, and not through miles of questionable wiring and corroded switches). Many owners change over to higher voltage because they are having electrical problems and assume that the 6-volt system is the cause. Usually, the problem lies somewhere else in the system, not the voltage.
Thank you for the advice and suggestions. I did get a headlight relay from Jim Spencer and that has been installed and functions flawlessly: the lights work well and are brighter. I also ordered a relay for my Hornet. It turns out the generator for the Commodore was only putting out 6.1 volts, not enough to charge the system. I hoped to rebuild it locally since I do not have a way to turn the armature. But I ended up mailing it via the local NAPA store to a shop in Portland , OR. I will let everyone know how that goes. I think the Hornet wiring is better then the Big C but inside the covering it may be as bad or worse. The engine starts easy
Gary, the generator output is governed by the voltage regulator, so you may need to adjust the voltage, which should be 7.2 volts at the A Terminal with lights on, engine turning at 30 m.p.h. equivalent. Adjusted by bending the spring hanger on the voltage coil - increase tension increases voltage. Very delicate adjustment, and must be checked with regulator at normal temperature, and re-checked with cover on.
Make sure that your battery cables are 0 or 00 gauge and use the 6 volt battery
I have personaly put to rest all of the 6 Volt issues to rest with just simply using a 'Optima' sealed gel Battery..........In this case you get what you pay for........1000 cranking amps. I use this in all my Hudson's, My son does as well. one of my batteries is almost 5 years old.
I have a 6 volt optima battery in my 51 Commodore 8 and it works fine, no problems starting. It came with the car about 5 years ago and is still going. I don’t like the look of it so I bought a replica battery case that it fits inside. Looks like a normal 6 volt battery with caps on top. Found it on eBay.
The circuit breaker is tripping from high current ,it automaticly resets itself.
Gary, there are a few things to also check. If the headlights on low beam work fine, then when you flip to high beam it trips the circuit breaker?. Check closely the wiring around the frt. junction blocks, verify the wires are NOT touching anywhere to other wires and/or ground. If you have had the actual headlights out, it is possible the wires you disturbed are touching ground inside the H/light bucket. If you carefully remove the high beam wire from the terminal block on the drivers side coming from the dimmer switch, isolate that wire so doesn't touch anything else, turn the headlights on and see if it still occurs. Many times when this occurs, we have found there is high resistance in the dimmer switch. Verify the wires at the dimmer switch are good also, if so, replace the dimmer switch, retest.
[b]When did they start making 9 volt batteries for cars? I thought they were 8 volt. A DUAL headlight relay is installed on the inner fender close to the headlight, not under the dash.[/b]
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