# Using 8V battery for starting purposes in 6V system
**URL:** https://forum.oldboatshome.com/t/using-8v-battery-for-starting-purposes-in-6v-system/175
**Category:** MECHANICAL
**Created:** [January 20, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://forum.oldboatshome.com/t/using-8v-battery-for-starting-purposes-in-6v-system/175 "2024-01-20T15:21:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rss8544](https://forum.oldboatshome.com/u/Rss8544)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://forum.oldboatshome.com/t/using-8v-battery-for-starting-purposes-in-6v-system/175/1 "2024-01-20T15:21:57Z")
1947 CC Rocket with a Chrysler ACE 6 cylinder with 6V electrical system. I use an 8V battery for better starting. Last season generator stopped working. Any chance this is due to the battery choice?
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### Author:  [@DavidK](https://forum.oldboatshome.com/u/DavidK)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://forum.oldboatshome.com/t/using-8v-battery-for-starting-purposes-in-6v-system/175/2 "2024-01-20T16:06:37Z")
Hi! Yes, an eight volt battery can cause higher than usual currents in your generator and regulator. The field points in your regulator were set up for 6 V so it could properly limit the current an 8 V battery can confuse that and you will lose regulation. Some people get lucky and it works but typically you do get excessive currents. We convert many 6 V Chrysler generators to 12 V and use the proper low current regulator. This generators do not put out a lot of current because they are fully sealed in other words, they do not pass air through them to cool them . So the generators are derated Because they cannot get rid of the heat. I believe there are two solutions. One is two get your 6 V system tuned up so it works perfectly or convert to 12 V. Converting to 12 V gives you a lot of options for other features in your boat…
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### Author:  [@Rss8544](https://forum.oldboatshome.com/u/Rss8544)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://forum.oldboatshome.com/t/using-8v-battery-for-starting-purposes-in-6v-system/175/3 "2024-01-20T16:13:51Z")
Thank you!
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### Author:  [@Badger85](https://forum.oldboatshome.com/u/Badger85)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://forum.oldboatshome.com/t/using-8v-battery-for-starting-purposes-in-6v-system/175/4 "2024-01-20T21:07:25Z")
My MCL is now 12 volt but I run a 6 volt starter. The engine turns over twice as fast making cold starts much easier.