Batteries for brass era cars - what do you use?

[hull 433]

For people with brass era cars, what kind of battery do you use, and what are the pros and cons based on your experience?

[Pat Branigan Wisc]

12V Gel Battery for starting. Hopefully free starts.

[browning]

I reworked a Dewalt drill battery recharger to tap the 18 volt output using a battery charger pigtail with one end permanently wired into the battery side of the switch. The charger still can be used to charge the battery when disconnected from the car.

[Steve Jelf]

I used a small six volt battery strapped in a frame rail to buzz the coils for starting the car on BAT. When I "upgraded" to LED taillights, brake lights, and turn signals, and charging my phone and other modern geegaws, I switched to a modern 12 volt car battery in the trunk. The magneto battery charger kept it charged. It all worked fine.

https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG102.html

[Rich P. Bingham]

I use a small 12v ATV battery tucked away behind the driver’s seat. If Lizzie fails to start easily I realize it’s run down . . . again !

[Erik Johnson]

I use a sealed six-volt battery with an inline fuse and quick-connect that is used in Fisher-Price Power Wheels kiddie cars. My brother used to manage an FAO Schwartz toy store and he gave me a half a dozen of them many years ago. I'm down to the last one. I place it next to the gas tank, on the passenger side. I charge it with a small, six volt charger/transformer.

A friend of mine used sealed alarm system batteries in an early, cross-engine Franklin. They fit neatly in the stock battery box.

[Loftfield]

12 volt gel deep cycle battery, held in an inappropriate battery carrier from a 1920's Model T. I use the battery for many free starts, and for stop and turn lights. I was going to go for a lithium ion battery until discovering how hot they burn (watch MGUY on YouTube), no need to take a chance with a brass era car.

[TWrenn]

I use a small 12v ATV battery tucked away behind the driver’s seat. If Lizzie fails to start easily I realize it’s run down . . . again !

Basically same as Rich. Think it's a 380 CCA 12V battery, really for a lawn tractor. They cost about $49 and usually last 3-4 years, occasiionally I get 5 out of one, so that aint bad. Except mines under the rear seat since it's a touring.

[JohnM]

If you want to keep it simple and inexpensive, for $7:99 you can buy a 6 volt lantern battery with two wires and alligator clips. Once started, switch to mag. I have done this in the past and the battery lasted four to six months depending on use.

I forgot to add, I used an old 3 way toggle switch to separate the bat from the mag and could switch instantly between them.

[NealW]

I use this 6V strapped to the frame on our 11 touring. Our 15 runabout has the same battery, although possibly a different part number because I got it several years ago. I got the idea of using a battery like this from Steve Jelf's website posting that he provided the link for.

It works well, and I only occasionally recharge it; mostly because I almost always start the cars on the magneto. However, it starts well on battery mode with this battery.

[TRDxB2]

Putting things in perspective.
You don't need a big expensive battery to fire up the coils or even run on the for a period of time.
While there is evidence that 12 volts fire coils a fraction of a second sooner than 6 volts there is also a caution to be aware of - best to read this link and decide for yourself. https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/1 ... 1271261371

Back then dry cell batteries were used. So if you want to look period correct
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/4 ... 1391269200

Robert Skingley on Monday, February 10, 2014 - 09:45 am:
Here are pictures of what I came up with for a vintage battery for my 1913 Runabout. This is based on what I read about the earlier Ford's , Model N , etc. The wiring diagram I found for the Model N shows two battery's in rows of six. It was not until Henry designed the Model T that we get the flywheel magneto. From the booklet or operator's manual that was written in the fall of 1913, it only mentions that a provision is made for a battery. That provision being , a switch on the coil box. I have a Beaudette body and behind the gas tank is a long narrow compartment that I use for a battery and other stuff. This seemed perfect for the six battery cells and I decided to build a rack to hold them. The rack is not necessary as a board placed behind them would have done the job. I personally believe that when the Model T's first made it out to the Agencies, they installed a battery. No free starts with out a battery. The 1 1/2 volt battery's I used have the look and voltage of the old dry cells but are constructed much different. The originals would have been metal cased with a carbon anode in an electrolyte. These are simply a plastic casing with up to date battery's housed inside. When the battery's have used up there life, I will leave them for display
--

--
---
Besides garden/mower batteries there are also 6 volt fence batteries to consider

[Colin Mavins]

Back in the 60s it was a 6 volt VW battery under the back seat , DAD built a box for the battery. 6 volt batteries are hard to get here in Winnipeg one size, so we went 12 volt tuned the coils to 12 volt changed the bulbs one charge every 2 years it runs tail park and signals and my car has free starts as long as it is hot it will free start all day long.

[Colin Mavins]

And the battery will last 6-8 years

[Erik Johnson]

Until we started using sealed rechargeable six volt batteries in our antique cars, my dad used a 6 volt hotshot style dry cell battery. That would be just as period correct as utilizing four 1.5V dry cells wired in a series with the added benefit is that you can easily place a hotshot battery under the front seat and next to the passenger side of the gas tank.

[Rich Eagle]

This optima has been working fine in my Speedster since 2001. It has outlasted more than a dozen batteries since then. It was free but I haven't bought another one. My mistake.

I use motorcycle batteries in the non-starter cars. They last a year to 4 or 5 depending on the size, for starting. Keep them charged.
Rich

[greenacres36]

I used a trailer break away battery. Compact and in its own box. I use only for coils starting. I use a small sealed battery for lights. If I leave the lights on I can still start the car.

[Daisy Mae]

6v wire fence battery.
I figure if it's strong enough to zap a cow, should kick the T !

[TRDxB2]

This 6v is a similar battery as above, and often sold as a trolling battery. They are AGM batteries so they can be mounted on their side or upright & designed for recharging. 12Ah, ampere hours which is much more than many others.
6v size 5.94 in x 2.01 in x 3.94 in Weight: 4.06 Lbs
12v size 5.94 in x 3.86 in x 3.98 in Weight: 8.38 Lbs

[George Mills]

For a '15 that will start on mag and run on mag, but always started easier with outside juice...

I did this for 20 years...starting only, fresh one every spring, always made it to fall...lol

[Steve Jelf]

These were used in many a Model T. They were plentiful and cheap. How plentiful were they? Nearly every phone used two of them. Now they are scarce and costly.

[bdtutton]

I have a 1914 touring car and I use a full size 12v group 78 car battery. It is a side terminal battery and it fits nicely under the rear seat. The battery will easily run my turn signals, brake lights and 55w Halogen headlights for hours (No electric starter). The car has no charging system so I recharge the battery every night when I get home from work....and yes, I drive my car 25 miles round trip to work anytime the weather is nice. It gets dark early in the fall and the bright headlights work well driving home in the dark. I plan to add a magneto charging system some time in the future, but the system I am using works fine for now.

[hull 433]

I use a 12v Duracell under the back seat on my '15. It also needs regular charging but I'm not driving it every day - yet.

[Steve Jelf]

You guys who have to keep recharging your batteries should try John Regan's magneto battery charger. It's easy. If an electronic dummy like me can do it, anybody can.

[Jugster]

I have a 1915 Touring, which, of course, was not manufactured with an electrical system. Because I wanted to install an electric self-starter, turn-signals and reliable lights for night driving, I had a full 12-volt electrical system installed. This consisted of a belt-driven alternator and an Optima battery under the rear floorboards in a later-vintage Model T battery bracket.

Battery Bracket.jpg (9.73 KiB) Viewed 3694 times

Optima batteries cost more than they're worth, but I used them anyway. For my purposes, the deep-cycle, yellow-top version works best.

81RFx0wWKUL._AC_SX569_.jpg (36.57 KiB) Viewed 3694 times

The alternator does a fair job of keeping the battery alive, but I frequently find myself hooking up an Optima charger at home.