charging system with diode pack
- Thread starter matt167
- Start date
Matt,
It's not the A/C (alternating current) that takes out the bulbs but the occasional spike of over current. I've checked the voltage on several engines and have seen it vary from 4.7 to 9 volts depending on engine RPMs. Most 6v lamps can't take that high end spike caused by the unclean, unregulated power supply from the magneto. Light bulbs do not care if their current is a/c or d/c but they do not like excessive voltage and some are very intolerant of shock and vibration. Hope this helps.
Tom
It's not the A/C (alternating current) that takes out the bulbs but the occasional spike of over current. I've checked the voltage on several engines and have seen it vary from 4.7 to 9 volts depending on engine RPMs. Most 6v lamps can't take that high end spike caused by the unclean, unregulated power supply from the magneto. Light bulbs do not care if their current is a/c or d/c but they do not like excessive voltage and some are very intolerant of shock and vibration. Hope this helps.
Tom
the charging system on my '51 Chevy, which is 6v.. caps off around 8v on the old mech regulator... however that runs a generator and not an alternator, so it is pure DC voltage, but it still fluctuates from 6-8v at idle and a few of the bulbs on the car are the original bulbs, and are still burning... could use 8v bulbs ( yes they do exist ) but it would be dim at idle, and there hard to find..... another thought is a solid state voltage reducer.. they are easy to make from a few radioshack parts or, they are available as dash gauge voltage reducers for mopars from the 60's to the 80's... all gauges Mopar was using were 6v gauges. the reducers are not resistors but truley solid state peices. they take 12v and make it a constant 6v, but if it dropped below 12v, it will still provide 6v constant, and not fluctuate unless it's below 6v coming in... only issue is, they need D/C power which means running a diod pack
if your wanting a headlight/ taillight I make and sell them check out the swap and shop it will save yourself all the headaches of finding a housing mount etc. they don't fall apart either or burn out in a day or two.
http://motorbicycling.com/f23/lights-7306.html
Norman
http://motorbicycling.com/f23/lights-7306.html
Norman
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