Expert: jack bahm - 3/31/2010

Question
QUESTION: how do you hook a battery up in a 1930 model A,

ANSWER: It is positive ground, and the neg. goes to the starter switch.  You can get batteries at sears or tractor supply.
jack

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QUESTION: that is the way that I hooked it up and it is draining all the juice out of the battery, it wouldnt even turn the motor over. Someone told me that i might have to polorize the voltage reg. how do I go about doing this, I am working on this old car for my Grandfather, he is disabled and his mind is not as sharp as it once was. Tks for all your help

ANSWER: If it is drawing current, you have a short somewhere.  The car may have been converted to a 12 volt system with neg. ground.  See if you can tell if the alt is 12v, or 6 volt.  When you connect the batt., there should be no spark at all.  If there is, you have to find the short.  Disconnect the light switch feed and try to connect the batt.  I ran into this once where someone had a 12 volt system and we tried to put in an A battery.  We had to install a 12 volt, and ground the neg terminal.  I don't recommend a 12 system, but you may have one.  Look at a light bulb and see if it says 12 v.  Or, take that bulb and see if it is very bright when you put 6 volts on it.  That may tell you if you have a 12 volt system.  With 6v on it, it should be very dim.  I don't know anything about polorizing the alt.  Stick with it and let me know how you make out, or if you need more help.
jack

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I checked all the wiring and all of that seems fine, this car was running when the old battery went dead, we changed batteries and now have a problem. My grandfather keeps saying something about a reverse polarity battery needs to be put back in it . Do you have any idea what he is talking about, because i dont.. tks

Answer
If you can, look at the old battery and see if it was a 12 volt, and which terminals went where.  You probably don't still have the old one, so try to connect the A battery neg ground and see if you get a spark.  I bet it was converted to a 12v. with neg ground.  I think you will need a 12v battery to run it if it was converted.  I know the r terminals won't fit the A battery, but you can hold them on there to check it out.
Do the bulb thing to see if they are dim with a 6 v. battery.
Good luck
jack