6 volt battery becomes 12 volts

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  • November 17, 2015 at 8:57 am #391541
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    A car I worked on has a 6 volt battery. Three cells, three filler caps, Interstate Batteries brand. But the battery read 12 volts across the terminals when tested with a voltmeter. The voltmeter is accurate, and verified on another 12 volt as well as 6 volt battery. The battery read 12 volts in the car as well as when removed and allowed to sit for several weeks.

    So how can a 6 volt battery be turned into a 12 volt battery? I am assuming that it was a 6 volt battery when new — a reasonable assumption.

    November 17, 2015 at 10:22 am #400738
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    Lead acid cells produce 2 volts nominal, actually more like 2.3 volts. The ONLY way to get 12 volts out of a 6 volt, three filler cap battery is to put a top from a 6 volt onto a 6 cell 12 volt battery. Check in the cap to see if there might be two distinct cells using the filler area for both filling with water and for venting. This could be either with the cells all parallel to each other in a normal configuration or with a partition down the middle so the calls are in a three and three configuration. If the manufacturer has figured a way to get 5 volts out of a lead acid cell, call Elon Musk. He will be interested.

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