Re: 6v positive ground with 12v output! Best of both worlds

Posted by JeromeSolberg On 2022/8/5 16:55:55

What was called Antique Auto Battery (closed in 2018, though someone is using their website address) used to produce this 6/12 battery which was two 6V batteries connected via that solenoid above, which activated when you hit the starter button, and only sent the 12V through the starter. It was designed to make up for cars with worn starters, etc. Not exactly the application you are thinking of, but something to be aware of. Each of the batteries was normally charged as 6V batteries in parallel, and ran the accessories and everything that way when the solenoid was unactivated.

When I got my car it had one of these, and it worked o.k., really made the starter rip (maybe bad for that!) but the solenoid would sometimes stick and I'd have to get out of the car and hit it with something.

Eventually, those units becoming very expensive, I purchased a regular 6V battery and just re-did all my connections, and the thing started fine just on 6 volts, and eventually I rebuilt my starter and now it is even better.