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so how old do you think this thing is?.....


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Wow--and it still works??

 

 

Even 360s were 12 volt, but they were positive ground. The entire electrical system hd 3 fuses (4 if you got the radio!), the signal light relay, six switches (turn signals, headlights, starter, brake lights, reverse lights and fan, plus the radio switches [not counted here]), the wiring and assorted light bulbs. To the best of my knowledge SoA has never used a 6-volt battery in a US market passenger car.

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12 volts is also proper spec for automotive. It's actually a voltage *range* anyway. Devices are designed to operate from 12 to 14 volts or thereabouts. When the alternator isn't running, a well charged battery will usually generate anywhere from 12.5 to 13 volts. With the alt running it's up around 13.8 to 14.5 or so in my experience.

 

GD

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A "12-volt" battery is actually 13.8 volts, in most cases. If you look at a laptop power supply for a 12V plug adapter, chances are it'll say 13.8 volts--the 1.8 volt difference is not meaningful to most electronics, but laptop makers throw it in there to cover their backsides (since power supply warranty work is very expensive), making that the best example. Most people just say 12-volt, as it's easier to remember than 13.8-volt. Have a look:

 

http://www.google.com/search?q=13.8+volt+auto&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

 

Just browse through the headings, you'll see what I mean.

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GD, although in practice it is a range, 13.8 is the check figure for computing aperage/wattage when designing or testing electrical components. So the "gold standard" for testing to lab-quality standards (yeah, right) is 13.8 volts.

 

The "thereabouts" in your post is the key. The voltage doesn't matter as long as it's high enough to power the car and low enough to not fry the electrical system.

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with batteries you get a higher unloaded voltage, but it drops when under load. A good battery will always be a bit higher than it's number. eg a brand new 1.5v aa battery will be about 1.6v when not under load (tested with a multimeter) all batteries do this to my knowledge, though probably to different extents, and the amount is proportional to the size of the battery. When you put a load on them they will drop down closer to the normal voltage. same principle actually applies to any power source, alternator or switching power supply etc.

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