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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / electrical question

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Discussion Topic: electrical question -- page: 1 2 3

46coupe

12-23-2015 @ 4:34 AM

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My car is operating using negative ground. What changes would have been made to accomplish this? If the car is still in original electrical configuration what will happen if I continue using the negative ground as opposed to positive ground? All gauges are working and it starts quickly. No evidence of hot wiring. I've asked "experts" here but have not gotten a consistent answer. Your help is greatly appreciated.

cliftford

12-23-2015 @ 5:59 AM

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Has it been converted to 12 volts?

Old Henry

12-23-2015 @ 6:23 AM

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When I first revived my 47 after sitting outside for 31 years I knew nothing of positive ground so installed the new battery negative ground like all of my modern cars. I drove it that way for 10,000 miles before someone told me it was backwards. Everything worked just fine except the battery gauge read backwards. Even the heater fan turned the right direction. I understand a stock radio wouldn't work that way but I had mine built to work either positive or negative ground.

juergen

12-23-2015 @ 7:13 AM

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It doesn't make much difference to the car. The ammeter is affected and so is the coil. You should switch terminals on these devices if you switch polarity. And as someone mentioned, the radio needs to be modified.

TomO

12-23-2015 @ 7:58 AM

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You did not give the year of the car and weather it is still 6 volts. The radio, coil and voltage regulator are all polarity sensitive. The coil and the voltage regulator will work less efficiently if the polarity is reversed.

Tom

46coupe

12-23-2015 @ 9:35 AM

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Thanks for all the input. Car is a 46 Ford with an 8 volt battery and 6 volt system. I will check the amp gauge for direction but thought it was reading a plus charge when the car engine was running. If all are in agreement that it is safe to switch back to pos. ground, and based on some of your responses it is, I'll try it later today.
I had been told that all the gauges would be reversed as well as the starter running backwards if I left it with a negative ground. Won't bore you all with the other suggestions that were made. Thanks again

cliftford

12-23-2015 @ 11:42 AM

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You have gotten some inaccurate information. Reversed polarity will not cause the starter to run backwards nor will it affect any of the guages except the ammeter. The fact that it has an 8v battery suggests that it has some electrical problems such as bad connections, bad grounds or a faulty starter. Check and clean all of these, including making sure the starter itself is well grounded to the engine and the engine is well grounded to the frame. disconnect and clean all of these connections.

12-23-2015 @ 12:21 PM

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@cliftford - are you SURE that "Reversed polarity will not cause the starter to run backwards"???

cliftford

12-23-2015 @ 1:55 PM

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Yes, I have converted these old Fords from 6v pos ground to 12v neg ground and the 6v starter stil worked fine.

Drbrown

12-23-2015 @ 7:00 PM

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You say the car is currently 8 volts, and you're changing up to 12. Don't see any mention here yet but you'll obviously need voltage reducers of various types for the three gauges, heater motor, etc. change coil etc.

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