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I need Bob M's help on a 6/12 volt combination sys

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BIG JOHN

10-04-2003 18:36:27

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Is it possible to run a combination 6/12 volt system on a KB-7 truck. There are so many 6 volt items ie., oil sending unit, water temp sending unit, windshield wipers, heater motor, that would be a real pain to switch over to 12 volts.

I would like to know if you can run 12 volts to the starter and still run the rest of the truck on 6 volts using 2 six volt batteries for juice? If this will work do you have a schematic showing how to do this?

Any help will be appreciated

THANKS

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Willie J

10-05-2003 06:41:33

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Re: I need Bob M's help on a 6/12 volt combination in reply to BIG JOHN, 10-04-2003 18:36:27

Big John
Quick, dirty & cheap, although some will scream at me for this. If you really need 12 volts, first set up the chargeing system with 2 6 volt batteries, & feed 12 volts to starter.
Next run a wire from the first battery to ign switch to feed gauges, ignition, heater, wipers,etc that you want to run on 6 volts.
Then run a wire from second battery to a terminal strip to is as a feed point for everything such as lights, radio etc that need 12 volts. To be sure everything gets enough amperage capacity use # 10 wire. Due to the uneven load, the first battery may only last 4 years instead of 5, but can spread out the lifespan by moving the batteries in the circuit occasionally. Have done several old Chevvys this way,worked great. Forget the 6/12 series-parallel switch. Mack used it many years ago, caused nothing but trouble.
BTW, don't know of any big truck makers that have used 12-24 systems since early 70's. They discovered that it was cheaper & more reliable to build a strong 12 volt starter.
Road coach busses use 24 volt because of the load of A/C fans, with a 12 volt tap for everything else. Those big gear driven alternators kick out over 400(four hundred) amps at 24v, cost over $1000 (one thousand) bucks rebuilt. Been there, done that.
HTH
Willie J

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Bob M

10-04-2003 19:16:26

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Re: I need Bob M's help on a 6/12 volt combination in reply to BIG JOHN, 10-04-2003 18:36:27

Yes - It can be done. You need a device called "series-parallel" (SP) switch at the batteries. A truck boneyard can probably set you up with a 12/24 volt SP switch (24 volt starters were common on diesel trucks from the 50's thru the early 70's). However finding a 6/12 volt SP switch may be a problem. Manually operated SP switches also exist - they have no actuating coils and so can operate on any combination of voltages. That would be ideal for your application. However I've only read about them in old truck maintenance manuals - have never actually seen one.

Suggest you consider this: Many years ago I converted an IHC S-180(?) truck from 6 to 12 volts. I found that the gages and senders worked fine on 12 volts, as did the 2 speed axle shifter. The existing wipers and heater worked fine on their "low" settings (though they did run a bit fast on "hi). All I ended up changing was all the light bulbs, the turn signal flasher and adding a ballast resistor to the coil. Bottom line is this might be an easier, lower cost approach than messing with an SP switch. (BTW the S180 is still working as a yard horse some 30 years after I changed it over to 12 volts...)

Note - I do have schematics someplace of manual SP switch set up. I can scan and email it to you - just let me know...

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Jailkeeper

10-04-2003 19:16:16

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Re: I need Bob M's help on a 6/12 volt combination in reply to BIG JOHN, 10-04-2003 18:36:27

It is possible but will require some effort. Lots of OTR semi's use 24 volts for starting/charging, but everthing else is 12 volts.

You could use 2 - 6 volt batteries to get the 12 volts for starting/charging. Use a cable off of one battery for all your other electric devices. They could be switched on/off with a solenoid wired to a toggle switch.

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