TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Dec 03, 2012 12:03 am

I don't have a charger for a 6 volt battery, they going the way of the dinosaurs?
Could I use my motorcycle battery tender on my 6v battery in my 63? It's put away from the wet winter months here in WA, and was wondering if I could hook it on there, anyone know about that stuff? It's a 6v batt. tender, like 2 amps? Thx

Mon Dec 03, 2012 12:23 am

Yes, that should work OK to keep your battery topped.

Mon Dec 03, 2012 11:51 am

jzjames wrote: I don't have a charger for a 6 volt battery, they going the way of the dinosaurs?

Get one while they're still around (chargers that can handle 6V, not dinosaurs)

http://www.sears.com/plus-start-battery-charger-ma...ockType=G7

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/battery.html

Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:32 am

I've 're-cycled' battery chargers from stuff like phones and cordless drills. Just cut off the original plug and solder on some alligator clips or power point plug (cigarette lighter). They have the voltage and current output 'printed' on the transformer. 8)

Tue Dec 04, 2012 8:36 am

Harbor Freight has battery charger in their Dec flyer that is 6V/12V switchable

Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:40 pm

Here's the Harbor Freight charger - on sale for $22.99 this month even :)

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-6-amp-6-12-volt-battery-charger-45005.html

(edit - I just noticed that it's the same one that's in on the page that Cusser posted a link to above...)

Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:27 am

I was wondering. Anybody run leads to a more accessible point so you dont have to pull up the rear seat? Or, for that matter, anybody use the type that charges thru the cigarette lighter?

Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:35 am

Quote: run leads to a more accessible point
A plate with a power point (cigarette lighter socket) under the seat with a short wire run to the battery makes it easy to connect a 'tender', charger, or compressor. 10 gauge wire is good for 30 amps.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:56 am

Ace has a really nice die hard battery charger. Little more money but I'm sure its a little better quality then the HF one.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:54 pm

Michael Fischer wrote: Ace has a really nice die hard battery charger.
A 6/12 volt switch?
or a 6 volt only?

Thu Dec 06, 2012 5:50 am

I actually saw one in tractor supply

Thu Dec 06, 2012 11:03 am

jzjames: Are you looking for a charger or a tender? If you want to just keep the battery charged during the winter, than you want a tender with an automatic shut off switch when the battery is fully charged. The tender will automatically kick in only when the battery needs "topping off" so to speak. If you need to charge a near dead battery or start your car, then you need a charger. One last thought: It has been my unhappy experience that if you let a car battery completely discharge, you have either killed it outright or it will die on you soon. Deep cycle (marine/RV) batteries won't but they are not recommended for use in cars. I'm not sure deep cycles are available in 6V anyway--perhaps someone can update me.
Jon

Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:06 pm

Does there exist, or is it possible to assemble, a 6V battery tender that would run off a 12V jumpstarter pack? My garage has no power running to it to plug a tender into and I find that if the car stands for much more than even a week it becomes very hard starting (and this with a redtop Optima) - can I use a starter pack to keep it topped up?

Thu Dec 06, 2012 2:50 pm

Ctek produces 6v chargers.

http://www.ctek.com/int/en/chargers/6v

Thu Dec 06, 2012 5:23 pm

onetuza wrote: I was wondering. Anybody run leads to a more accessible point so you dont have to pull up the rear seat? Or, for that matter, anybody use the type that charges thru the cigarette lighter?

Over the winter, I connect the battery tender to the battery wire on the voltage regulator and the ground to a case bolt. I unhook it after a few days when the light turns green. I don't know much about voltage regulators but often wondered if there is a reason NOT to do it that way?

Thu Dec 06, 2012 5:45 pm

I connect to the big wire on the alternator(Internally regulated),which is connected directly to the +battery post;other side to ground.

Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:04 pm

Dangermouse wrote: Does there exist, or is it possible to assemble, a 6V battery tender that would run off a 12V jumpstarter pack? My garage has no power running to it to plug a tender into and I find that if the car stands for much more than even a week it becomes very hard starting (and this with a redtop Optima) - can I use a starter pack to keep it topped up?

Battery tenders run off of AC current, so don't think any one of them will work on 12V.

If your Optima doesn't hold a good charge for more than 7-10 days, then it may not have a full charge to start off with or it not be getting fully re-charged during use. I know of one 6v Optima that is 9 years old in a '55 Oval and it will start first crank after sitting ~2 weeks or more. I suggest you go to their site for more info on how to charge and recover a low AGM battery, or do a Goggle search on the subject.

If you don't have an outlet in your garage, why not just take the battery out and into the house to charge/maintain it?

Fri Dec 07, 2012 8:01 am

Yes, something's wrong with your Optima, or perhaps more likely, you have something that is draining the battery. My 6 volt red top will sit for even a month and will start my Beetle easily. You can have it checked for free at a local auto parts store. But if it checks out OK then you could have an electrical fault that is putting a load the battery even when the car is turned off.

Fri Dec 07, 2012 8:24 am

Quote: you could have an electrical fault that is putting a load the battery even when the car is turned off.

This is easy to troubleshoot. Disconnect the ground lead from the battery. Connect a test light a 6v or 12v one based on the battery voltage, or a VOM set to AMPS with the test lead in the right spot on the meter. Connect your 'tester' between the just removed battery connection and the battery 'post' it was taken from. If the light 'lites up' or the meter shows a current reading, you have a drain. In my case I have a drain from an analog clock and the memory for the radio, both small amounts according to the meter. 8)

Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:46 pm

This is a current limited, regulated battery charger circuit; it will regulate the charging voltage to 7.2 V or 14.4 V and limit the maximum charging current. You could add a toggle switch to accommodate both voltages. The circuit will work with a 12 VAC input or with a 12 volt battery charger connected to R1. The output can be adjusted to 7.2 volts for charging a 6 volt battery or 14.4 volts for charging a 12 volt battery. R1 sets the maximum charging current, (R1 =6/A).

If anyone wants to build this regulated charger let me know and I will post some pics of my charger. I have been using this circuit for 25 years and it works great.

Wayne