Ignition: How do you jump start a 6 volt battery if you get stranded

[ransome]

I just bought a 1950 starlight coupe that will arrive in a couple of days. I always carry a 12v usb battery jumper but don't want to use on a 6v battery. After looking there is no 6v portable jumpers.
The only other option would be to carry a 6v Optima red top battery in the trunk for emergency's.
Anyone have any better ideas?

[RadioRoy]

How often have you had to jump start a car? If the car is kept in good repair, it's rarely if ever needed, so you may be worrying needlessly. In over 50 years, I have only had to do it once and that was on a car with idiot lights that did not tell me the voltage regulator conked out.

Having said that, the way to do it is to have two people work in concert.

-hook up ONE wire from the jump battery to the car battery, observing proper polarity
-get in the car and hit/hold the starter button
-while you are on the starter button, have the other person hook up the second wire to the battery
-remove the jump battery the instant the car starts or the instant you get off the starter button

The basic idea is that the jump battery is only connected while the starter is turning, or attempting to turn. That keeps the load concentrated on the starter and not on burning out the gauges.

No, carrying another battery is not the only option. That way of thinking limits your response to the situation.

[StudeRich]

Very simple, FIRST have the Engine READY to start; Carb. Primed if long standing and necessary.

Just leave doors closed, Window Open and ALL Lights electrical items OFF. Then connect a Jumper Cable to the (-) NEG. 6 Volt Batt. Post and to the (-) NEG. 12 Volt Battery or Jump Box.

Then Connect the Other Jumper Cable to the (+) POS. 6 Volt Batt. Post and to the (+) POS. 12 Volt Battery or Jump Box.

Then quickly Start the Engine (better to have a helper do that, OUT of Gear) and REMOVE the 6 Volt Positive (Ground) connection First, then the remaining Cables.

Just remember: Positive to Positive, Negative to Negative and you will have no problem.
Also, always keep your EYES and Face Away from batteries when connecting them.

I always considered Jump Boxes an expensive Joke, as long as you are not the Last person on Earth with a Car with a Battery, all you really need is a good pair of Jumper Cables and a Lost look on your Face!


UPDATE: Opps, typing while Roy was posting!

[ransome]

ok thank you

[Skip Lackie]

Positive to positive, negative to negative. If jumping a 6v battery with a 12v battery, it is important to stay away from the 6v battery; ie, make the LAST connection of the jumper cable from the negative terminal of 6v battery to the 12v negative terminal or ground, like the alternator bracket. And then disconnect that one as soon as the dead engine starts. The reason is that the 6v battery will be getting overcharged and will outgas hydrogen gas. You don't want a spark near that (or to be anywhere near it).

[Georger]

And make sure the lights are not on, or the radio.

[Milaca]

Have another car pull your car or have another person push your car while you are in it holding the clutch pedal in (with the transmission in a forward gear), then release clutch pedal when the car is moving 2 or mor miles per hour. I know there are situations where this isn't possible, but it works very well when it is possible. This is assuming you have a manual transmission.

[RadioRoy]

Have another car pull your car or have another person push your car while you are in it holding the clutch pedal in (with the transmission in a forward gear), then release clutch pedal when the car is moving 2 or mor miles per hour. I know there are situations where this isn't possible, but it works very well when it is possible. This is assuming you have a manual transmission.

Better lock the overdrive out first.

Are we maybe putting too much emphasis on starting a car with a dead battery? How often is this going to happen? Is the OP just a little gun shy from never having had a six volt car before?

[jcharlestc]

Anything and everything that everybody here has said which emphasizes speed. AND SAFETY.



Make sure your car is ready to start (this has been said, earlier).
Make certain that it has been running very recently. Do not attempt to try this "12-volt jump trick" on a car which wasn't run an hour ago, or just yesterday---or, at the very outside, the day before yesterday. Absolutely no longer.

The most important thing to remember is the heat which will be generated in the 6-volt starter motor; and the stresses in the delicate 6-volt coils (usually three of them) in the voltage regulator---which were not designed to operate on, or control, anything other than 6 volts.

Switch off ANYTHING and EVERYTHING which can be switched off (said earlier), or kept off. Do not, for example, put your foot on the brake pedal, which will energize--and blow--the brake lamps when 12v is applied to the system. Make certain that turn signals are not activated, nor the wiper motor, if electric.

If the car doesn't start within three-four seconds: stop; "don't go no further".
Go buy a new battery if you're at home. If not, call a wrecker, or AAA with a new battery.

[Along with a new battery, the next thing(s) electrical you should invest in (in a 'vintage' auto such as this) are (1) a full generator re-build (FULL, as in new brushes; and turning the commutator and undercutting the mica insulation between the segments); (2) a FULL starter re-build (including new bushings) to make it brand-new, and (3) a new voltage regulator. The non-electrical things you should invest in are fuel-related: new fuel pump; carburetor re-build; and new, clean fuel in a dropped and flushed-out gas tank; and a new--or ADDED--fuel filter.
As long as you maintain the generator and replace the voltage regulator infrequently but regularly, you should never need jumper cables.
Oh, and add a $9.95 'multimeter' ('VOM') to your toolbox. I've caught--literally--every "battery-going-flakey" problem--before it became a real problem--by simply doing a quick battery-voltage check most every time the hood gets raised. You do this, and you'll very soon know what's "normal" for your car And, more importantly, what's not.]

"If it was easy, they'd'a sent a little boy with a note".

[gordr]

There is another way. Positive jumper cable from the 12 volt battery positive to the 6 volt battery positive (ground strap). Negative jumper cable clamped to the "cold" side of the starter switch or solenoid, or direct to the starter if you can reach it. Turn ignition on in dead six-volt car (assumes there is enough juice in battery run ignition coil). Don't step on starter button or hit starter switch! On a signal, keeper of the cables, touches free end of negative cable to a good ground in rescue vehicle, say alternator clamp bolt. There will be sparks, so not right on battery! Twelve volts goes only to starter, which can stand the gaff. If ten seconds cranking does not bring it to life, stop, let battery and starter rest, and look for other problems.

[Skip Lackie]

Gord's way is not "another" way. It's the BEST way.

[rkapteyn]

I think the OP meant that he has 12Volt cables 'but does know that voltage does not matter on jumper cables as long as they are heavy enough