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(Fwd) Jumping a 6-volt VW


From:          "Everett Barnes" <ebus@ebus.simplenet.com>

I've heard in the past that it is okay to jump a 6-volt car off a 12-volt
battery but today someone told me never to do that - it would damage the
electricals/generator of the 6-volt car.  He said I should only jump a
6-volt car off a 6-volt battery - like there are a lot of people driving
around with 6-volt cars...  :-(

Using a 12 V car to start a 6 V one is a time honored way of getting 
a particularly stubborn engine to start.  It does, however, have its 
drawbacks.  It is clearly hard on the 6V electrical parts such as the 
starter, coil and points, and you don't want to do this with any of 
your lights on.  For things other than bulbs, there shouldn't be much 
of a problem as long as you limit your starting attempts to short 
duration.

The times I have done it I have been careful to connect the last 
jumper cable AFTER the engine was already cranking with the 6V 
battery and to disconnect it before releasing the key.  That way the
12 Volts is never applied directly to the victum without a strong 
load on it which will draw the voltage down.  Obviously this is at 
least a 2 person job.

Jim
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       Melissa Kepner                                    Jim Adney
       jadney@vwtype3.org              jadney@vwtype3.org
                             Laura Kepner-Adney
                             Madison, Wisconsin
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