6 volt or 12 volt

[Peter in Aus]

That ore you have already voted and forgotten about it, its been going since Jan 14 I know I must have voted but can't remember it!?
I would have as I am very much in favour of 12V

[RDfella]

I prefer three phase ....

[Sav]

Still with six volt here on all bikes.

The downside I am experiencing is that EVERY six volt LED headlamp I have purchased has given me trouble.

M23 BA15 frequently goes dim like a side light on dip. I ride with an Xposure push-bike light in case!
A10SR double dipper BPF is on full beam whether dip or main (both sides tested from separate supply and whole bulb illuminates)

Two of the new improved LED bulbs just bought from Goffy (very helpful!) have gone straight back as one had no dip and the other did not dip, just went dimmer on both sides.

[mikeb]

EVERY six volt LED headlamp I have purchased has given me trouble

Sav -  the 'classic dynamo regulator conversions' 6v 5th gen bulb shines brightly on my 6v a10. it should for the price of it. but it is h4 so you need a new reflector or get creative with the bulb mount and some tie wire into the old bpf reflector. all the other 6v bulbs i tried were rubbish.

[Sav]

Cheers will take a look at that once I have tested the replacement bulbs that arrived promptly, as usual, from Goffy.

Might be a few days as I lost an argument with a medium sized tree I was felling after the weekend's storm damage. Damn thing pivoted and sprung back, skinning my knuckles rather a lot (lucky really) . Won't be wearing gloves for a few days!

[RDfella]

Bring back acetylene. 0 volts. Just need water (plenty of that about) and no prince of darkness to frustrate you at every turn. My charging has just stopped. Again. Can't keep up with fixing things anymore, so just charge the battery once a week (no night riding).

[muskrat]

G'day Sav.
"Might be a few days as I lost an argument with a medium sized tree I was felling after the weekend's storm damage."
Can never be too careful. https://tinyurl.com/yym9s3ce
Cheers

[olev]

Needs to take a chainsaw safety course!!

[Swarfcut]

Caption. Save on Healthcare Costs with our DIY Vasectomy Kit.

[Ewen]

I'm sticking with the 6v on my GF for now because I've just bought a big new lead acid battery for my bike and I don't know if I'll ever ride this bike at night. Headlamp seems nice and bright though. Unless I've just wrecked my dynamo.... I forgot to remove the bridging strap  (linking F and D when testing a few days ago) and revved the bike a bit to see if charge was showing on the ammeter....careless. The trouble is the previous owner fitted a 30 amp ammeter so it's hard to see the needle move. What ammeter should I fit... 6 or 12 amps? Advice appreciated.

[RDfella]

`12A

[Rickj]

 just bought a 59 A10, so I’m sure there’ll be loads of questions as last time I rode/owned a Brit bike was 1969. Had loads of BMW’s japanese and even a couple of Harleys. Initial issues are dynamo not charging, so very interested in the 6 or 12 volt debate, as dynamo repair and new battery required, wet sumping, manual valve fitted in feed line by previous owner. With my memory, I’ve stuck a note on the tank to turn on to avoid any catastrophic engine issues. Any suggestions on the above issues are welcome.
Rickj

[limeyrob]

Dynamos tend to work forever and even when they don't they are easy to strip and repair.  If the bike has been standing the dynamo may have lost is residual magnetism and not be self exciting.  Get the new battery, then "flash" dynamo. If that doesn't do it take the dynamo end cover off and squirt some brake cleaner in and make sure the commutator is clean and the brushes move.   If its a mechanical reg then prise the lid off (they have usually been off many times) and clean the contacts.  End cutting pincers work well for easing over the lid.
It may take 2000 revs first time to get charging but once its got some magnetism it should charge from around 1000-1500 rpm.  6v is fine now with LED bulbs, if you don't already have those get some as they drop the current draw a lot.
Download BSA Service sheets 804A and 809.

[CheeserBeezer]

I find that 12v provides more versatility. Most modern equipment needs 12v. Sat nav, phone charger etc. Bulbs are easier to get hold of too.

[mikeb]

if this is a 6 vs 12 volt question: i see no trainspotter value in old electrics, but have kept 6v on one of my BSAs while doing leds, dvr2, indicators, GPS maps etc. If i started again I'd go for 12v for the reason cheeserbeezer says. and if you can revive your 6v dynamo that can still charge a 12v system