Guru's, answer me this. ;-)

It appears that a positive ground ain't.

Arne

Chris

Don't scoff! I have done it and I have seen it done.

It will ruin the battery if you leave it this way and the battery will be very inneficient but it will operate and it will charge backwards if the generator is polarized backwards along with the battery.

To correct just put some load on the battery such as lights etc. (not ignition) and leave it on over night to completely discharge the battery then recharge the battery in the right polarity and repolarize the generator. The battery my never be the same but it might. Hard to tell.

Arne

As a check. Measure directly across your battery terminals, they are correctly marked and by virture of chemical reaction can only be certain polarity. With your digital meters "positive" lead on the battery + terminal and your meters "negative" lead on the battery - terminal, you meter should read a POSITIVE battery volts.

This has NOTHING to do with positive or negative ground which is a physical connection of the battery terminals.

In the olden days of analog meters, If'n the meter needle tried to go "off-scale" the other way, you physically switched you meter leads.

In a digital meter, the A-D converter floats the reading and the internal battery reference provides a sign function on the digital meter face. (all auto-magical). and you don't have to swap the meter leads to get an "on-scale" reading, just pay attention to your polarity sign.

Howsomever, we are blessed with a starter that doesn't care, positive or negative ground, still turns the same way. Same thing 6 or the faster turning 12 volts, doesn't care.

Of course, there are those amoung us that are electrically challenged and find the simple mental gymanistics too confusing. SWAP THE LEADS..... ....respectfully, Dell

As a check. Measure directly across your battery terminals, they are correctly marked and by virture of chemical reaction can only be certain polarity. With your digital meters "positive" lead on the battery + terminal and your meters "negative" lead on the battery - terminal, you meter should read a POSITIVE battery volts. >>

Dell, That's what I'm doing and what prompted me to post. It is reading NEGATIVE battery volts. As Sparky said, maybe I have somehow polarized the system incorrectly? I know I did jump it wrong when I first got it.

Arne

POLARIZATION has nuttin to do with meter readings.

Now then, there have been occasions when the electrically illerate have completely discharged a wetcell battery and actually recharged it "reversed polarity" with a big battery charger. But you can't do that with a tractor generator.

If'n ya can't get yer fancy automatic digital meter to read correct drycell polarity, have a consulatation with someone that is electrically experienced and make certain yer doin it correctly..... ..Dell

I know what I am doing here. I measured the jump batt just to make sure my meter wasn't acting goofy or that I was crazy. This battery is bassackwards. I am going to buy a new battery, disconnect the reg, install the new batt and then poloarize the system. Does that sound like a good plan?

Arne

Thanks for the help everyone of you! This board is an awesome resource.

Arne

I know what I am doing here. I measured the jump batt just to make sure my meter wasn't acting goofy or that I was crazy. This battery is bassackwards. I am going to buy a new battery, disconnect the reg, install the new batt and then poloarize the system. Does that sound like a good plan?

Arne

As far as jumping you are still hooking pos to pos and neg to neg to do the jump. This will not cause the starter to turn backwards. Wether it is pos ground or neg ground the battery doesn't care, it is only the return link, so to speak.

I mean positive lead on the DVM to the positive post on the battery and so on. What prompted me to check was my friend has a 6V charger, a newer modern one. When he hooked it up, a light that indicates the leads are reversed lit up. The starter spins the right direction, something must be right. ;-)

Wait a minute.... Why then does it work to jump it with a twelve volt with pos to ground and neg to starter pole? I am confused.

Arne