an electrical ponderance

[hillbilly]

a friend has an old 6 volt tractor that is used intermittently. most time when he goes to start the tractor the battery is dead. The tractor is parked where no electric is available.
I have a tractor that starts with 12 volts and I overcame the same problem by using a solar powered trickle charger. (I have never seen a 6 volt solar charger)

The ponderance:
if you can make a 12 volt battery out of 2, 6 volt batteries by connecting the posative terminal on one to the negative terminal on the other (making sure the actual connection is made away from either battery so theres no chance of spark igniting battery gas) then would a 12 volt solar charger work on this set up...
all my friend would have to do is disconect the other battery
and solar charger from the battery still in the tractor and his battery should be charged .
What do you think

[Cheyenne Dave]

It may be easier (and cheaper) to take the battery home with him after each use...or leave it on the tractor, disconected. Otherwise, your solution sounds good to me.

[Paul Cook]

I am a big fan of keeping things original, particularly POWER WAGONs. Still, I will convert from 6v to 12v unless originality has a higher priority than avoiding most of the electrical problems.

For example, it requires two people to jump start a 6v with a 12v without possible damage to the 6v system. This is described in detail in the Technical Support Section of the Kempner POWER WAGON Museum web site. (Click on the "www." button at the bottom of this post.)

Usually, a 6v tractor has no electrical gauges and the electrical system is limited to the starting/charging system and lights, if any.

I believe the simplest solution for your friend would be to replace the 6v battery and generator with a 12v battery and a single wire alternator. If there are any electrical instruments, they can be replaced at very reasonable cost. The same goes for any light bulbs.

The 6v starter will handle 12v without needing to be changed.

The conversion to 12v is an inexpensive upgrade and will allow the use of a readily available solar charger. I have one that has small spring clips for temporarily clamping to the battery. That makes it easy for me to move the charger to different vehicles.

Who knows what other 12v accessories that might lead to - a megawatt stereo that can be heard over the tractor, a DVD system to watch when the plowing gets boring, and ???