How to boost a .....
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Make sure no lights are on first because 12V will blow the 6V lights. Make sure everything else is off also. I have applied 12V to the starter and ignition system on 6V vehicles for very short periods with no harm. The starter will spin very fast
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
My first auto shop teacher had a 39 Chevy converted to 12 volt, but he still used the 6-volt starter. He'd had it in there for years and it was holding up fine. Said it was OK as long as you didn't crank it for too long. That car started so quick, that wasn't a problem. It's just as Eric says, make sure all you are running in the 6 volt system is the starter and you'll be fine. -TD
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
If you HAVE to do it out in the field, you can use a step down transformer type deal on cables that plugs into the 12v lighter. I think it would be pretty risky boosting a 6v battery with 14v volts from your truck. A big 6v battery is less then $40, I do not see it as worth the risk of explosion or nuking the 6v system for less then a $40 investment.
You can buy a battery charger/booster that supports both 6v and 12v at Autozone for less then $50. It is what I use.
You can buy a battery charger/booster that supports both 6v and 12v at Autozone for less then $50. It is what I use.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
The amount of current involved would blow any lighter socket fuse or wiring. For the same "job" the current required doubles for 6V. A 6V starter running on 12V draws a huge current and can overheat and melt rapidly. There are many old 6V tractors and vehicles out there that have been converted to 12V that still have the original starter and boy do those starters spin that engine! You certainly don't want to sit and crank on one for a while tho...
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Here's the deal, I'm looking to buy a riding mower from a lady that lives in the country. She said the battery is dead. I was looking for a way to boost it without buying a battery for something I might not buy. I'll see if I can borrow a 6v charger just so I can start it. Thanks for the help.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
If you have a regular 12 volt charger, you can add a resistor in series with the battery to lower the voltage to the 6v battery. But take the battery out so that you don't hurt the wiring of the riding mower. The resistor must be able to take a bunch of amps (watts) which you can get at radio shack or even just use a 12 volt car headlight. Because a battery looks like a short to the charger, the resistance should be very low. You can also wire several resistors in parallel to to each other to up the watt rating and lower the resistance. I'm probably getting a little technical here but it would be cheaper than buying a new battery.
