VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt Jumping 6 volt ??

I have a stock 6 volt system in my 41.. when the battery went dead last week I wondered if I can or should jump the car with my other one, which is 12 volt ??

Michael41

You can jump it but best to have a live 6 volt battery in place. It does not have to be up to snuff but have enough current to keep it running after the jump start. Runnning for extended periods on 12 volts will cut the life of the points and other electrical parts.

using 12v to jump 6v is okay but be sure all the lights are off, heater motor off and do not leave the 12v plugged in while you go in and have coffee!

using 12v to jump 6v is okay but be sure all the lights are off, heater motor off and do not leave the 12v plugged in while you go in and have coffee!

If the car quits take the cables off immediately and turn off the key leaving the key on can cause the coil to explode if you leave the cables hooked up and the points are closed ( makes a HECK of a boom)

Michael:

Go to the local parts store like Napa or Schuck's or whatever and buy a cheapie "trickle charger." Around $30 - maybe less 'on sale.' It only takes a few hours to get enough charge to start the car.

Very likely these fellas know more than I; but I would only jump 6 v. from 12 v. if the car was stuck in the sand and the tide was coming in VERY fast. Just too easy to have problems with lights, gas gauge, etc. (I acknowledge the other respondents advice about lights etc.)

You could always buy that $350 battery from Chev's of the 40's I wrote you about - or - a Delco 413 so you'd at least have a "Delco" under your hood (regardless of what sour puss Skip says) - or - a 'generic' 6 volt battery and avoid the whole 'jump' sitch. :) :)

None of my biz; but how did the battery 'go dead' last week?? :confused: :confused:

Is there some other 'problem' like loose connections, 12 volt cable instead of 6 volt cable, etc. ?? Or do you just figure the battery in the car is 'old' and about out of life??

Bill.

A Delco 413? You mean that some dudes still use those things?? :confused:

We have found an inexpensive ~ $ 20 trickle charger/battery maintainer at your local Wallie World. They can be clipped on or wired in. A plug allows to disconnect quickly for driving and re-attach when back home. Testing for over 1/2 year says they work just fine. Are switchable 6v or 12v.

Wow,
I entered the message above and up pops a web page for Richard Noe Automotive group in Terrill, TX.

Backed up and then forward to get a page from Mack Heik **** in Houston, TX. Refreshed a couple of times to get three messages posted.

Watch out guys the cyber gremlins are awake!

Yo Skippy: sorta made that reference just to rattle your cage. I'm not going thru all that again. You (and others) can/may rag on 'em. They work 'just fine' for me. 'Nuf said. Bill.

Thanks Ya-all.

FTR:
I have a trickle charger.
Battery went dead when radio was left on
Battery was dead @ time & place I couldn't wait for a “trickle"

Thanks again

That is why I recommend that all radios installed be powered through the ignition switch. When the ignition is off, the radio is off.

Oh yeah, "the old left the radio on deal." Nice goin' Michael!

Boy, Ray is absolutely 'right-on' about wiring the radio with the ignition switch.

The radio in my '42 is NOT wired 'thru' the ignition switch. Consequently, when I park or put it in the garage, it seems like I always have to turn it 'on' and then turn it off - just so I'm dead sure it is 'off' - if you get my drift!

Bill.

After Ray restored my radio, it was so silent that I was forced to switch it through the key. Actually I installed a 6 volt relay, so no more dead batteries.

I have a one amp trickle charger that I have been using since 1960. It still works great after all these years and I use it regularly to keep my batteries charged....(except for the Delco 413 of course......nothing will help those things. ha ha!)

As Raymondo said, the radio is best if it is powered through the ignition. The deluxe radio in my '51 Chevy originally came powered through the ignition and in the 45 years that I have owned the car the radio has never run down the battery because when I turn the ignition off the radio goes off as well.

All that Skip says is true except the part where I ain't going anyway.

Incidentally, if I've done my part correctly, take a look at Big Bob's artistic handiwork, just below. Thanks so very much, Bob. :cool2:

Bill.

(Sorry I fouled it up the first time Bob.....somehow I managed to pull off an 'edit' and get it right the second time..... Wow, computer 'genius' me! Thanks again, Bob!!)

It is a free country so each to his own, I just hate to waste money, when I can get good servicable stuff locally. I never got what believed was my money's worth out of any Delco battery I ever had. I have too many batterys to do other wise...last count I have 9 six volt batteries and 13 12 volt batteries in service around the clock. Tractor Supply and Sams, Walmart get most of my battery money. Walmart is best for lawn mower and 12 volt cars and trucks but Tractor Supply does better with the 6 volt stuff.