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petermeachem
Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 358 Location: Chichester Sussex
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:16 pm Post subject: 6v battery charger |
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Bought a 6v mgb battery today. Problem is my charger is 12v and 6v ones are quite a lot of pennies.
I was wondering if I can use the 12v one.
If I connect it across the terminals it will definitely be 6 volts, or whatever the battery happens to be at that time. It's a Halfords charger which seems to have a bit of electronicals inside. That might get upset if it only finds 6v between its terminals and either switch itself off or over charge. Neither good.
Does anyone know if this might work? |
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Bitumen Boy
Joined: 26 Jan 2012 Posts: 1735 Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think it will do any good, the electronics will stop play. I know I tried to use a Halfrauds electronic charger which I inherited on some electrolysis work, and it wouldn't play - but the Absaar my dad bought in the 80's worked just fine. Of course if you could connect the battery in series with another 6v (shouldn't it have that arrangement on the car anyway?) then the charger won't know the difference
Failing that, look out for a cheap used charger - old ones generally had a switch for 6 or 12 volts as a standard fitting. |
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petermeachem
Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 358 Location: Chichester Sussex
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Bitumen Boy
Joined: 26 Jan 2012 Posts: 1735 Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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The other option would be to use the 12v charger with a suitable resistance in series - maybe you could cobble something together with an odd bulb or two? Looks like our electrical experts are elsewhere just now... |
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Greg
Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 445 Location: Dreamland Margate
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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I too have a 6v battery on my pop, some years back I bought an 'Optimate' charger which is switchable for either 6v or 12v.
They are no good for a rapid charge but can be left connected to the battery if the vehicle is not used much so there's always a good charge.
They're not very cheap but I've had mine for a long time and it's still going strong
Here's a link to one :
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=301014050709
Hope it's of use,
All the best,
Greg |
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D4B
Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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Yes I have a 12V Optimate or Accumate can't remember which but they are fantastic little chargers, just make sure to buy one that does 6V and 12V... ie the one above is just the job |
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petermeachem
Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 358 Location: Chichester Sussex
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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It's a bit expensive. I've just twigged, the one I found isn't 6 ARMS it is 6A RMS. Duh |
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Inglewood
Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 183 Location: Stone, Staffordshire
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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If you have an older 6v battery, connect and charge in series with the new one. |
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petermeachem
Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 358 Location: Chichester Sussex
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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I would have done so if I had one.
I'm not sure lightbulbs in series will work, I suspect the charger is reading the battery voltage |
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Bitumen Boy
Joined: 26 Jan 2012 Posts: 1735 Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 1:50 am Post subject: |
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petermeachem wrote: |
I'm not sure lightbulbs in series will work, I suspect the charger is reading the battery voltage |
It would work with an old-style non electronic charger, provided you worked out the correct rating of bulb to use by applying Ohm's law and the sort of maths that I prefer to leave well enough alone... I'm not sure it's possible with an electronic charger either, but if you've got the stuff lying around it won't cost anything to have a go.
Just a thought, but if it's for a 7 couldn't you start it on the handle and charge the battery by running the engine? |
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petermeachem
Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 358 Location: Chichester Sussex
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 7:31 am Post subject: |
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I agree.
I'm not trying to start the engine yet, the wiring loom is in but there are too many loose ends, I'll wait until I connect the lights etc up. I want to make sure the electric bits and bobs work. There aren't many but I'd like the trafficators to work for instance, they never have. They would add sophistication |
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pigtin
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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I would recommend the lightbulb method, used it several times myself and you can juggle the wattage to adjust the charging rate. If you get it wrong the worst you can do is blow the bulb. _________________ Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL |
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mistericeman
Joined: 22 Feb 2012 Posts: 94 Location: Not far from Oldhamabad
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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The last charger i bought (about 3 weeks ago as it happens from Aldi/Lidl) was an intelligent charger
...capable of re-energising completely flat batteries maintaining charge etc
AND charges at 12v/6v has built in protection for reverse polarity etc
Cost of approx £14 ...
Why bother buggering about with light bulbs etc ??? |
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petermeachem
Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 358 Location: Chichester Sussex
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Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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That's the problem with Lidl, you have to need what they want when they have it in stock.
Which they don't currently. |
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mistericeman
Joined: 22 Feb 2012 Posts: 94 Location: Not far from Oldhamabad
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