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| | | Forums66 Topics128,049 Posts1,055,741 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 5 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2015 Posts: 5 | New to the 6 volt truck world. Basic question can you jump a 6 volt with a second 6 volt battery, as you do with 12 volt systems? Wanted to be sure I didn't burn up something before asking. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | Yes, but it would require BIG jumper cables, like #00 or larger fine-strand welding cable. 6 volt systems are very sensitive to voltage drop from undersized cables.
A very short boost with 12 volts to a 6V system won't damage anything. I prefer to do that type of boost with two people, one to make the starting attempt, and another to quickly connect the 12V boost after the cranking attempt is in progress. Be careful not to make any sparks near either battery- - - -make the final connect/disconnect at the ground connection. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 | Now it's been a lonnngggg time, but seems to me in the back of my feeble mind you need to be careful jumping a positive ground system with a negative ground system. Or is that just a rumor? Can't say I've ever done that.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,440 Moderator - The Electrical Bay | | Moderator - The Electrical Bay Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,440 | I just charged the battery up fully.
Another quality post. Real Trucks Rattle HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | Just be sure to observe the polarity of both batteries while boosting. A "ground to ground" connection between positive and negative ground vehicles results in instant fireworks! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | A "ground to ground" connection between positive and negative ground vehicles results in instant fireworks! Jerry And NOT the kind you enjoy watching. 
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion. Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 5,716 62401 | | 62401 Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 5,716 | But isn't that how you make a field expedient welder?
~ John A kid raised on Hotwheels, Matchbox and Tonka cannot be reasonably expected to own only one vehicle as an adult. 1949 Chevrolet 3804In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum1973 IH 1310 Dump1963 Kaiser M38A12001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie"2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley) | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | When I was a battery assembler on the line at Hester Battery Co. in Nashville TN, I saw two 8D series batteries (120 lbs. each)roll together on a conveyor line. These batteries had the terminals that hung over the end of the battery case, and they shorted together. The Pos and Neg terminals met exactly right and welded themselves together. 24 volts with a couple of thousand amps pushing the current makes for some very impressive lightning! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,636 | Used to sell 8D batteries when working at the parts store. Always had to have help to lift them. Couldn't lift one by my lone some.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2015 Posts: 4 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2015 Posts: 4 | I have jumped my 6 volt neg ground 49 3600 with modern 12 volt cars by attaching jumpers directly to starter with positive cable and to anyplace on frame where you can get a good connection with neg cable without any problems the cables do get a little warm and you should disconnect them as soon as the engine fires | | |
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