The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 12/6 volt splitter

Hi Bolters:
I may need to replace the starter on my 52 2 ton Chevrolet.
In doing so, I may convert from a 6 to 12 volt system. I have seen ads on eBay for a splitter which allows you to send 12 volts to the starter only and 6 to the rest of the vehicle.
If this is doable, it would save me a lot on changing light bulbs, heater motor etc.
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Sam the Meat Man
1952 2 ton Chevrolet - Schuyler

I have seen these too not sure of the cost but I don't think that they are cheep. Another idea if you aren't apposed to mounting another 6 volt battery would be to use a Ford starter solenoid and wire the batteries parallel so they both charge and provide 6 volts to the truck and use the ford solenoid to switch the stating circuit to series for 12 volt to the starter. This is what the big trucks do with either 4 6V batteries or two 12 volt batteries to run the truck with 12 volts and the starting system with 24 volts. The duel battery system would Shirley never leave you stranded.

Sam,

The swap to 12 volts would probably be MUCH less painless (and not expensive either) than messing with some bizarre method of splitting various systems up.

The standard switch would always have to include the charging system. The original 6 volt starter will work fine on 12 volts and the only other issues other than changing several bulbs would be the heater motor and fuel gauge.

The Runtz type resistor would handle the fuel gauge and the HD voltage reducer would work on the heater motor.

This is the whole enchilada...you're done! You now have a conventional, working system. Pretty painless, huh!

Stuart

Ditto! There is nothing simple or uncomplicated about a series-parallel switch- - - -I used to service them when I ran a truck shop, plus they're designed for 12/24 volt systems, not 6/12. The 6 volt starter will live a long time on 12 volts, and swapping the rest of the system isn't too difficult. Add a 12 volt coil, and a self-regulating alternator, the above-mentioned resistors for gas gauge and heater blower, and the rest is just bulb changes.
Jerry

On my 54 I recently aquired, the previous owner
mounted a 12 volt battery under the hood just for the starter. The rest of the truck operates normally with the 6 volt under the floor. You just have to remember to charge it with a battery charger every once in a while. I does start really nice though,
Scott

I agree,there is no need to change the starter

sam, why dont you just fix the strarter you have or get another one and leave it the way it is? i have no problems with two of my trucks still being six volts.