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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

tester for 6 volt battery

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LA in Wi.

02-11-2007 09:26:30




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I have a portable battery tester for 12 v. batteries that has a needle that goes to percentage (%) of charge remaining in battery.
I don't know a thing about ohms or the finer points of electricity. I pretty much have watts figured out! I just know that this tester helps me determine how much reserve a battery still has(such as on my boat trolling motor battery). I would like such a tester for my 6 volt battery on my tractor. Farm & Fleet don't have it. Anyone know where I can buy such a tester?

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dave guest

02-16-2007 08:17:07




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-11-2007 09:26:30  
Your tractor is the best tester you got. Charge battery until specific gravity is right. Should be equal in all cells. Crank engine with ignition off and check reading with voltmeter. 6 volt should read at least 4.5 when cranking to be considered OK. 12 volt should read 9 volts when cranking. Lower means battery is nearing end of life or starter is drawing too much current with proper oil for temperature of course. Don't use digital meter. Analog only bout $25.

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Ralph - Ohio

02-12-2007 14:59:52




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-11-2007 09:26:30  
Harbor Freight ITEM 93784-2VGA is a 6 and 12 volt battery tester. Regular price is $20, now on sale at their web site for $10. I think this meter, since it puts a load on the battery, would give you more accurate results than your present one plus doing both 6 and 12 volts.



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LA in Wi.

02-12-2007 19:58:16




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to Ralph - Ohio, 02-12-2007 14:59:52  
Ralph, I think I'll order that tester you mentioned ($9.99). Thank you.

You other fellows, same deal.....much thanks for your advice and info.



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JoeK(WI)

02-12-2007 08:52:21




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-11-2007 09:26:30  
I believe what you have is sometimes referred to as an electrical"fuel gauge".I have a little Minnkota one slightly bigger than a matchbook w/LEDs for"0,1/4,1/2,full".However I believe these to be simply a sensitive voltmeter rather than any kind serious test equipment as in itself,there is no way to load the circuit.Ie:ANY combination of good batteries,even AAs totalling 12+ volts will test"full".Actual"tester",resistance or carbon pile,put a load drain on the battery to determine it's value.As mentioned,carbon pile testers are readily available from Northern,Harbor Freight,Tool Crib,General etc for reasonable prices.Digitals are a bit pricey compared to analog.

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Don L C

02-13-2007 14:14:37




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to JoeK(WI), 02-12-2007 08:52:21  
The one I have is 6" wide 3" deep and 14" long..... It has a switch for 6 - 12 volts, one for load no load...under load a ventilated section gets hot as hell....the cables that atach to the batery are #o1 cable with large clamps. I got it at Swallens in Cincinnati 30 years ago...



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kitoa69

02-11-2007 19:21:20




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-11-2007 09:26:30  
look at tooltopia.com. $90 carbon pile tester, test both 6v & 12v. I've had mine 3yrs and no problems. I repair class 8 trucks so it gets used alot



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Dave Anderson

02-11-2007 16:42:29




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-11-2007 09:26:30  
What you probably are looking for is a carbon-pile load tester. This unit can test voltage, and apply a load to check if the battery has the ability to start a motor, and it can tell you if your starter is drawing too much voltage. You can get these off of Snap On, Mac trucks or Harbor freight. You can get 6 or 12 volt units and I think there is a dual voltage unit.



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Bob

02-11-2007 14:28:35




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-11-2007 09:26:30  
Have you looked on ebay? I'll bet some good battery testers from the "6-Volt days" must come up on there on a regular basis.



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kennet larry ennis

02-11-2007 12:28:21




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-11-2007 09:26:30  
I agree with the use of a regular voltmeter between the source and chassis ground. I would use a 12vdc meter even though your working with only 6vdc. A good hot 6vdc will run somewhat higher(7to8vdc).

Most of your useable battery power will be in the 4.5vdc and up power area.



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rgvtx

02-11-2007 12:14:43




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-11-2007 09:26:30  
I know a guy that has one of these and he swears by it. I have never used it myself and at a cost of 200 bucks needless to say I don't own one either.



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Ralph - Ohio

02-11-2007 10:47:25




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-11-2007 09:26:30  
I'm not sure what your tester looks like but I suspect you could hook it to a fully charged 6 volt battery and make a mark on the meter face where the pointer is. Then hook it to a nearly discharged 6 volt battery and make another mark. The space between the marks is the usable range.



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LA in Wi.

02-12-2007 01:48:08




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to Ralph - Ohio, 02-11-2007 10:47:25  
Ralph, I tried that...and the needle didn't even move off zero. This is a little thing about 3" square with one red wire and one black, with metal "stick probe" on each. No adjustments on it, just touch posts and get a reading. I've had it for at least 20 yrs and forgot where I bought it and how much I paid...I know it didn't cost much or I wouldn't have bought it for a boat tester. Thanks guys for your ideas, but that $200 one is way above my head!

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Ralph - Ohio

02-12-2007 14:24:51




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to LA in Wi., 02-12-2007 01:48:08  
It sounds like what you have is an expanded scale analog voltmeter. Even though it may not be calibrated in volts, the scale probably corresponds to about 10 to 16 volts. The meter doesn't start to move until the voltage is somewhere above 6 volts. Therefore it won't work to test 6 volt batteries. It wouldn't be as handy but you could use one of the little digital multimeters available from Harbor Freight, etc. for less than $10. Using the switch position labelled something like 20 volts DC, measure and record the reading for a fully charged battery. Then when the battery won't quite run the trolling motor anymore measure it again and record the reading. Then you'll know the usable range.

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Ralph - Ohio

02-12-2007 14:27:42




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to Ralph - Ohio, 02-12-2007 14:24:51  
Sorry, I confused the trolling motor with the 6 volt tractor but you get the idea.



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Don LC

02-13-2007 14:19:54




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 Re: tester for 6 volt battery in reply to Ralph - Ohio, 02-12-2007 14:27:42  
The same.....



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