Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttrdc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mgnetp!ltuxa!ttrdc!levy From: levy@ttrdc.UUCP (Daniel R. Levy) Newsgroups: net.auto.tech Subject: Re: conversion of 6 volt to 12 volt system Message-ID: <580@ttrdc.UUCP> Date: Sun, 17-Nov-85 00:51:58 EST Article-I.D.: ttrdc.580 Posted: Sun Nov 17 00:51:58 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 18-Nov-85 06:30:34 EST References: <362@cbuxc.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T, Computer Systems Division, Skokie, IL Lines: 49 In article <362@cbuxc.UUCP>, jrm@cbuxc.UUCP (John Miller) writes: >The problem: The 6v starter system is crummy, it turns slowly and in the >winter will sometimes not start. I have jumped it with a 12volt battery >and found that the started (as expected) turns faster and the overall >starting interval is shorter. A (perhaps dumb) question, and a (perhaps dumb) suggestion. When you jumper a 12-volt battery across a 6-volt system, doesn't that produce harmful current flows both for the 6-volt and the 12-volt batteries involved? Is this done with the 6-volt battery temporarily out of the circuit? Or is the 12-volt power just connected to the starter, with the starter otherwise out of the circuit (which is what I suspect....) As for the question itself.... Maybe something could be rigged up with TWO 6-volt batteries, normally charged in parallel from the generator/alternator, but reconfigured by a heavy DPDT relay or switch to be in series for purposes of cranking the starter if necessary? Then only during cold weather need the starter be operated overvoltage. Since the thermal inertia of the starter winding assembly is normally fairly great (note that most starters, maybe all of them, are operated at current levels which they could not survive continuously anyway) and the windings are well chilled anyway during such cold weather conditions, this may be safe under these conditions. (Someone wrote in to explain how they had burnt out 6-volt starters with 12 volts, however, so boost at your own risk.) The lashup is simple: +-----------------> to rest of electrical system | +------->---------+ / | | / | / | | / | +-------------0 0----> to starter | |/: | | _______ original 0 0 : / 0->-+-|- | starter / | | 6v | switch or / | |(extra)| relay 0 0 0-+---|+ | "Boost" | "Normal" |_______| ----- --- - -- ------------------------------- Disclaimer: The views contained herein are | dan levy | yvel nad | my own and are not at all those of my em- | an engihacker @ | ployer or the administrator of any computer | at&t computer systems division | upon which I may hack. | skokie, illinois | -------------------------------- Path: ..!ihnp4!ttrdc!levy