OT, tell a 6 volt accessory from 12 volt

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: OT, tell a 6 volt accessory from 12 volt
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Howard D. Dennis on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - 01:58 pm:

I just acquired this dash panel thinking it might work on my 1917 Maxwell. After checking wiring diagrams I find it matches 1918 exactly. The trouble is 1917 is 6 volt and 1918 is 12 volt. I hate to get rid of this dash if the cut out/regulator will work on my dash because this unit is N.O.S. My question is can the cut out/regulator be tested (by someone more knowledgeable than me) to determine voltage requirements or is there a visual difference that can be seen? Thanks for any help, Howard Dennis1918 Maxwell


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - 08:36 pm:

Dennis:

If you have a wiring diagram for how this unit is connected to the rest of the system then I might be able to help you figure something out but this is not something I have any experience with since I have never owned or even seen a 1917 maxwell up close. I do know what a cutout is and how to test one and to thereby determine if it is suitable for 6V or 12V operation. I see what appears to be some wire wound resistors in part of your picture so wondered if this device gated in our out some resistance to vary the charge rate according to some input device signal like when the light switch closes. I have seen that before. If I could see your wiring diagram for the car that this goes with and also any other info you have on this unit I might be able to at least tell you how to verify that it is working. No promises but I will help you if I can.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By JohnH on Thursday, August 01, 2013 - 01:03 am:

If you were to connect a variable power supply to the voltage coil you can find out if it's 6 or 12V by observing what the pull in voltage is.
It does look like this unit is a cut out as well as a regulator - the top coil has normally closed contacts which would be normally be in series with the generator field coils. There's a good chance one of the resistors could be across those contacts.
The lower coil having normally open contacts would be the cut out.
Other than that you'd have to get or trace out a wiring diagram.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A. J. "Art" Bell on Thursday, August 01, 2013 - 01:19 pm:

I’m not sure which wiring diagrams you have, or if posting any wiring diagrams will be of help, but nothing ventured . . . .
All show 12 volt batteries, but two of them show 6 and 12 volt connections at the battery,








Regards
Art


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Howard D. Dennis on Thursday, August 01, 2013 - 02:31 pm:

Thanks Art and both Johns, My car is the middle diagram marked "late " 1917. Notice the 4 battery cables. It starts on 12 volts but runs and charges on 6 volts. 12 volts only touches the starter/generator through the battery switch but the dash only receives 6 volts where as the 1918 is 12 volts everywhere and makes me question whether I could steal it's cutout/regulator for my car?


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