jump starting 6 volt beetle · Aussieveedubbers

blair62 · 18 Apr 2010, 9:52 pm

Hi,I am wondering if there is some way of using a 12 volt battery to jump start my 6 volt VW without damaging the electrics.
Regards Blair

Craig Torrens · 18 Apr 2010, 9:54 pm

Yep... just dont crank it for a long time (more than 10sec), and only connect the lead when you are ready to start it and disconnect as soon as it starts.

68AutoBug · 18 Apr 2010, 10:20 pm

blair62 wrote:Hi,I am wondering if there is some way of using a 12 volt battery to jump start my 6 volt VW without damaging the electrics.

Regards Blair

Hi Blair...

If You connect up a 12 volt battery to your 6 volts system..

You will burn out Your 6v coil, 6v fuel cutoff solenoid on the carby .. 6v electric choke...

the two 6v dash lamps - red & green ...

6 volt generator and regulator..

so, its NOT an easy thing to do...

If You have all the electrics connected to a 6 volt battery...

and disconnect the small lead going to the starter motor solenoid..

Jumper leads -- connect the -- BLACK negative lead to the chassis

and + RED positive jumper lead to the starter motor solenoid.

AFTER You have disconnected the standard solenoid cable going to the solenoid from the 6v battery ..
tape the end up so it cannot short out...

You are Only using 12 volts to the starter motor and solenoid.
these will take the 12 volts OK...

naturally You must have a bit of power left in the 6 volt battery for it to start...

once You have connected those leads up...
careful that the + [RED] clamp is NOT touching the chassis or starter motor body etc..

then connect them up to the 12 volt battery...
until the engine starts... then disconnect the 12 volt battery..

The engine should then run on the 6 volt battery and 6v generator...

best of luck

LEE

Craig Torrens · 19 Apr 2010, 10:39 am

Ive started 6 volt cars for the last 20 years with a 12volt "jumpstart" battery with no probs......the trick is to be quick and dont leave the 12volt battery connected to the 6 volt one. 👍

This isn't about connecting (replacing) the 6volt battery with a 12volt one, that will fry your electrics................this is about using the 12volt battery to Jumpstart a car with a dead or very low 6volt battery installed.

greedy53 · 19 Apr 2010, 5:39 pm

along the same lines i have used a 24 volt truck to start a 12 volt car no worries like they said disconnect straight waay

68AutoBug · 19 Apr 2010, 6:50 pm

Craig Torrens wrote:Ive started 6 volt cars for the last 20 years with a 12volt "jumpstart" battery with no probs......the trick is to be quick and dont leave the 12volt battery connected to the 6 volt one. 👍

This isn't about connecting (replacing) the 6volt battery with a 12volt one, that will fry your electrics................this is about using the 12volt battery to Jumpstart a car with a dead or very low 6volt battery installed.

You learn something every day...

I would have never tried to do that....

I probably still won't lol

and having the 6 volt battery still there connected is very important...

I'd still do it My way... lol...

at least then nothing would be blown...

cheers

LEE

Joel · 19 Apr 2010, 7:06 pm

nothing will blow

i've jump started a 36hp bug off a 12 volt battery before and all that happened was the generator light was flickering, probably cos the regulator didnt know what the hell was going on.

It stopped doing that soon as the jumper leads were disconected

blair62 · 19 Apr 2010, 9:11 pm

Wow - talked to the ether and got so much help.
Thanks for your suggestions,I really appreciate your effort
Regards Blair