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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | Got a 6v battery finally and now I'd like to know two things. First, do I need the resistor now that I have a 6v battery? It is my understanding that a 12v coil without the resistor hooked up is the same as a regular 6v coil? And if I don't need the resistor anymore, can I just leave it hooked up or should I take it off? Secondly, the guy at NAPA told us that we should charge the battery. But I don't have a battery charger that is able to be switched between 12v and 6v. It is strictly 12v charging power. And this is probably a question that shouldn't really have to be asked but the 12v battery charger will burn up the battery, right? I THINK that I may be able to have access to a 6v battery charger but I don't know yet. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | You must not use the resister with 6 volt system. The 6&12 volt coils are similiar but not the same. It might work OK but possibly could have a weak spark or burn points. You need a 6 volt charger to charge the 6 volt bat.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | Uh, so you're saying that the 12v coil without the resistor is NOT like the 6v coil? I was told here by someone that the 12v coil without the resistor would work just as good as a regular 6v coil. And hopefully the battery I have is not discharged much, and it works since the gas gauge moves when you turn the key now, even though it shows a full tank. Anyway, if the battery needs charged I'm sure my neighbor would charge it, since my brother helps them all the time. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | the 12V coil WITH the resistor, with a 6V battery, will NOT put out a good enough spark when cranking to fire well .... the resistor on a 12V system is bypassed when the starter is engaged, allowed back in the circuit when the engine is running .... if you ditch the resistor, it MIGHT work, but if you're going to do 6V, do it, quit jumpin around in circles, make a plan and stick to it
not sure I understand spending money on 12V stuff, then turnin around and buyin 6V stuff .... you're going to need a lot of parts anyway [probably including most of the light bulbs], why not stick w/ 12V and just do it?
and NAPA should have charged the battery for you if it needed it, how do they know it's good if it needs a charge off the shelf??
Bill | | | | | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,464 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,464 | The 12 volt coil actually operates on about 9 volts through the resistor, so it would definitely be under powered with just 6 volts.
If your 12 volt charger has a trickle charge setting you could try it. Does it have an amp meter on it? The battery should charge safely at about 5 amps or less. I would pop the caps off, make sure it's full of distilled water, then turn the charger on for a second or two and watch that amp meter. If the charger is trying to put too much charge into it turn it off and look for a 6 volt charger. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | Red58, the only 12v thing I have bought is the battery. I can put that one to use in another of our vehicles. I have made up my mind just to leave it 6v for now anyway. Right now what I have tested has worked and if it works now why mess with it now? And even though the starter is supposed to be able to work on 12v and even more than that it seems to me that it sure burnt mine up quick, and when I talked to Gasandaspark last night he said the same had happened to him on one of his previous trucks. So really I haven't bought anything that I can't use or take back. And as for NAPA, I don't know why they said to charge it. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | waldo53, the charger has a 2/6/12 amp setting. It's a new one that's supposed to be "smart." I can't meter the amps as it's through a microprocessor. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | I found what I was told about the coil. Yes the 12V coil will be OK on 6V. Another thing to be aware of, the battery cables for a 6V are bigger than 12V cables. If the cables have been changed to the small ones like so many have been, you should replace them with size 00. Check with the tractor store.
Tim, thanks for the correction on the Optima charging procedure. A 12 volt internal resistor coil will not be OK in a 6 volt system.
A 12 volt coil with no resistor, for use with an external resistor, will be just fine in a 6 volt system, no resistor needed. If the truck was already running and starting good then this would be what you have.
A 6 volt coil, and a 12 volt external resistor coil are exactly the same thing.
Sorry to cause such a problem with suggesting one Optima battery, much less two...
It all depends on what you need, and what you plan to do with the truck.
I agree, it sounds like a cheap 6 volt will suffice for now.
But in the long run if you plan to keep a 6 volt system then I still think the Optima is the way to go, and consider buying it now to save the mostly wasted cost of the cheap 6 volt. If you live in a cold place then two 6 volts, while expensive, may be very much appreciated, or if you like overkill. And as I said in my first post on the subject, one would work just fine.
Grigg | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 460 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 460 | I'm trying to decide if I want to replace the battery in my new '36 with a stock 6V battery or do the conversion to 12V so I'll be watching this topic for ideas...  ~Trev | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | Trev, right now I'm pretty much convinced that 6v is just as good as 12v. The headlight that is hooked up is just as bright as one of the 12v headlights on my mom's blazer or my brother's '85 Chevy. My only dilemma right now is that I'm being told two different things about the coil. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 460 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 460 | My headlight switch is (apparently) not working although I haven't tried it personally so I have yet to check mine... that's just what 4ontheFloor said when he did his inspection, but he felt the switch could be dirty so ya never know... I'm leaning seriously in favor of 6V myself since she is pretty much original and will have a look at my favorite battery places this weekend to see if they offer a good 6V variety at a good price... Once a healthy battery is in the truck it should be much easier to diagnose any little problems that may exist... ~Trev | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | Well, Trev, I hope everything goes ok for you. I'm just going to go on what I was told first since I managed to find it and hopefully it will be fine. If not, it doesn't matter right now since the points aren't set right anyway and if the coil won't work my neighbor might have one to trade. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | Well, it's official. I'm keeping the truck 6v, unless I absolutely HAVE TO change it over to 12v. Granted, yes I'll probably have to go through most of the wiring, but I'll probably be saving money because at least 1/2 if not more of the electrical system is in good condition, and the rest may or may not be due just to some bad connections or a burnt light bulb.
Trev, I just tested my light since it's dark here and it sure is bright. My light switch is a little sloppy and you have to mess with it to get the light and the dash lights on but I've got the hang of it and it works for now. If you don't mind ordering your bulbs when they burn out instead of going to Wally world and getting them there I think it's easier and probably cheaper just to leave it 6v, but what do I know, I just started this. But anyway, I'm satisfied with 6v for now. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 90 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 90 | If you want to keep from burning up your points as fast, including times that the key may get left in the on position without the engine running.... use a ballast resistor that is .47ohms on 6 volt. This doesn't drop the voltage as much as provide a load in case the ignition gets left on. I have seen this nice feature on 6 volt cars and trucks before. 12 volt ballast resistors are usually rated somewhere between 1 to 1.5 ohms. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | Well, Justin, that's the problem. They're not burned. They just aren't sparking. And it's got electricity to it. About the ignition, why do people keep saying to turn it to the left? I turn mine to the right and it turns it on. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 460 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 460 | As of tomorrow the long weekend is over so I may try to get into Vancouver to pick up a new 6V battery for the new beast... decided she has a lot of charm as a 6V with a 6 so that's the way she's gonna stay... although I may swap out that style of air filter...  darn, I felt like Jed Clampett last night and thought I struck oil out in my garage when I tilted it!  ~Trev | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | Ah, come on Trev, a little oil won't hurt ya, if you wash it off. By the way, my coil problems should be over in a few days since I have one coming. Oh, and the battery I got from napa, I believe, from what the site said(my mom bought it while I was at school) has a 30 month warranty and it's only $64.95 without the $10.00 core charge. That is, if you have that kind of money! | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 460 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 460 | We have a shop here who builds their own batteries... top quality, hand made right at the place you buy 'em, you can pay cash and avoid the taxes as well as getting a deeper discount by talking right to the owner and they warranty everything they sell for years... That's where I'm headin' tomorrow! ~Trev | | |
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