12 volt generators

Looking around websites with both new and used parts I don't find much for 12 volt generators. When you do find one its way more expensive than a 6 volt. Plenty of 6 volts around. I was wondering if when the change to 12 volts started there were alternators available so 12 volt generators weren't used much.

For auto/trucks or tractors? I suspect that most North American cars and trucks had flipped over to 12V by the mid-1950's I think. I remember in my grade 12 automotive class in 1962/63 learning about alternators (don't remember much), and maybe Chrysler Corp was the first big outfit to use them? I think Europe was using 12 volts in cars and trucks long before North American did. Not sure about any of this stuff except my grade 12 experience.

'55 Land Rover and '52 MG both 12 volt generators but both positive earth.

Only took about a decade to figure out the 12v Genny couldn't keep up with all the demand the new electrical gadgets were consuming.

Six volt generators were from the beginning (late teens, early 20's) to mid 50's, so 30 something years of production.

Twelve volt only mid 50's to early 60's, so only about 10 years production.

I'm talking automotive, light truck, light industrial, small tractor. There were many other variations along the way, so don't take this as absolute truth.

Supply and demand sets the price.

Also the tractor manufactures that had direct start diesel tractors had 12 volt generators while the gas stayed with 6 volt. Early 12 volt diesel generators were also 3 brush generators while later ones were 2 brush generators Most all tractor generator charging systems were positive ground as well

Deere went to twelve volt on the A in 1947. I suppose the G and D were switched to 12 at the same time. The B remained 6V. Some of the WW2 military vehicles were 12V. Offhand I cant think of any farm machinery or general run of the mill street vehicles being 12V during the early to mid 40s.

Chrysler was first with an alternator in 1962 models, nearly all vehicles had them in 1963.

Ben

I wonder why everyone switched to negative ground. They say that electrons flow from negative to positive.

(quoted from post at 13:11:10 09/30/19) I wonder why everyone switched to negative ground. They say that electrons flow from negative to positive.

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Here are a couple of takes: ( not ALL factual, just part)

1) Model T Ford had it right with Negative ground, then Ford "fixed" it with the Model A (Pos gnd), then Ford "fixed" it again in 1956 (back to Neg Gnd).

2) Ford was almost ready to go into production with the Model A & discovered that spark was positive...investigation revealed that the coil was manufactured wrong! Henry, being the frugal man that he was, said," take too much time & money to scrap/re-manufacturer all those coils...just reverse the battery cables". Finally fixed that mistake in 1956.

3) Had it wrong with Model T, fixed it with Model A, then made it wrong again in 1956.

4) Had it right with the Model T, messed it up with the Model A, couldn't admit mistake until all the guilty players were dead & then fixed it in 1956.

5) When lightening strikes, it is an electrical discharge from a Negative cloud to a Positive Earth, so if it was good enough for God, then it was good enough for machines. Of course the main current is in the return discharge from Earth to cloudbut the Earth is still the Positive end of it.

And FINALLY,

5) It doesn't make any difference, like left/right hand threads on lug nuts, as long as user knows how it is set up, either work just fine. It is just a convention necessary to facilitate communication.

Mopar went alt in?60. 12volt in 55 on some makes 56 on others. So only 5-6 years of 12v gens. Ford switched in 56. Gm in 55 or 56 depending on make.

Hello centash

Chrysler was the first one to USE AC generators, that was in 1960. Ask me how I know. No matter the output current type, they all are GENERATORS. Chrysler call them alternators to let people know it was a better system, more like a selling point,

Guido.

Good to know.....maybe Canadian built Mopars were a year or so behind the US models

Ben

(quoted from post at 17:39:26 09/30/19) Hello centash

Chrysler was the first one to USE AC generators, that was in 1960. Ask me how I know. No matter the output current type, they all are GENERATORS. Chrysler call them alternators to let people know it was a better system, more like a selling point,

Guido.

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y your kind of logic, I could argue that both are alternators, putting out AC current, until in one it is rectified by commutator/brushes and the other by diodes. :shock:

Hello Centash,

First car with an alternator 1960 Plymouth Valiant. It was 50 amp alternator.
OH yea I had one 1 170 CU. IN. 101 H.P. three on the floor,

Guido.