notjustair
Well-known Member
I need help from the peanut gallery.
I'm talking about my 35 Chevy I frequently use for chores. My uncle let fall into disrepair and I'm slowly getting her back into shape as I use it. The truck has its original 12 amp generator with a cutout. It works as it should and has been verified to put out its full capacity. My question is how much lighting can I put back on it and still have it be able to keep up?
The original headlights are in place and work. Part of the issue is that they are rated in candle power and I'm not sure how to add that to the mix or know how many amps they will draw. Per the original specs the park lights are 3 candle power, the low beams are 21 candle power, and the high beams are listed as 21 also but the replacement bulbs are listed as 50 candle power for bright. I can see me upgrading to those newer bulbs. There are two dash lights which aren't much.
I want to add an orange marker to each front corner of the grain box, a red marker light to each corner of the back of the box, and the one tail light and brake light combination. These are all things it used to have. I have bits and pieces of the originals, but it's all pretty trashed so I'm going with new reproduction stuff for everything behind the cab.
Since there are so few lights I would like to add three red "clearance bar style" lights in the center of the grain box up under the back lip. I do use it on the blacktop between farms and it would be used after dark occasionally after it has lighting. Those six volt headlights will be barely adequate but I definitely want people coming up from behind to know I am there. It is registered antique so I can't go all crazy and add a bunch of stuff, though.
What should I be looking for watt-wise so I don't push the limits of the charging system? I have those candle power measurements for the front lights. I have the period correct tail/brake light fixture but it doesn't say what watt bulbs it uses. .
I'm talking about my 35 Chevy I frequently use for chores. My uncle let fall into disrepair and I'm slowly getting her back into shape as I use it. The truck has its original 12 amp generator with a cutout. It works as it should and has been verified to put out its full capacity. My question is how much lighting can I put back on it and still have it be able to keep up?
The original headlights are in place and work. Part of the issue is that they are rated in candle power and I'm not sure how to add that to the mix or know how many amps they will draw. Per the original specs the park lights are 3 candle power, the low beams are 21 candle power, and the high beams are listed as 21 also but the replacement bulbs are listed as 50 candle power for bright. I can see me upgrading to those newer bulbs. There are two dash lights which aren't much.
I want to add an orange marker to each front corner of the grain box, a red marker light to each corner of the back of the box, and the one tail light and brake light combination. These are all things it used to have. I have bits and pieces of the originals, but it's all pretty trashed so I'm going with new reproduction stuff for everything behind the cab.
Since there are so few lights I would like to add three red "clearance bar style" lights in the center of the grain box up under the back lip. I do use it on the blacktop between farms and it would be used after dark occasionally after it has lighting. Those six volt headlights will be barely adequate but I definitely want people coming up from behind to know I am there. It is registered antique so I can't go all crazy and add a bunch of stuff, though.
What should I be looking for watt-wise so I don't push the limits of the charging system? I have those candle power measurements for the front lights. I have the period correct tail/brake light fixture but it doesn't say what watt bulbs it uses. .