Charging 6 volt batteries in series

[Mark Poss]

My John Deere GM has two 6 volt batteries. Can I just hook the charger up to one battery and charge both? Thanks, Mark

 

[Jim.ME]

Hooked in series charge them as one 12-volt. Hooked in parallel charge as one 6-volt.

 

[Mark Poss]

So if the batteries are hooked in series I should set the charger to 12 volt?

 

[Jim.ME]

So if the batteries are hooked in series I should set the charger to 12 volt?

Jumper cable from the negative post of the first battery to the second battery's positive post. Charger positive connected to the free positive post of first battery and the charger negative connected to the free negative post of the second battery to get 12-volts.

 

[Mark Poss]

Thank you

 

[Hemmjo]

It they are in the tractor and hooked up, you actually have ONE 12volt battery it is just in two packages. You just need to hook the charger like you would a regular battery.

IF they are out of the tractor, and NOT connected to each other, then what Jim says

 

[Mark Poss]

It they are in the tractor and hooked up, you actually have ONE 12volt battery it is just in two packages. You just need to hook the charger like you would a regular battery.

IF they are out of the tractor, and NOT connected to each other, then what Jim says

So I just hook up the charger to one battery and it will charge both? The batteries are in the tractor

 

[Jim.ME]

So I just hook up the charger to one battery and it will charge both? The batteries are in the tractor

NO!!

If the tractor system is 6-volts the two batteries in the tractor would be wired in parallel (Positive of one to positive of the second one. Then negative of one to negative of the other.) If they are wired this way (in parallel) you need to charge them as 6 volts.

If the tractor is a 12-volt system using two 6-volt batteries, they would be wired as I earlier posted. They must be hooked in series as I described out of the tractor. For 12-volts they would be wired that same way in the tractor.

Are the two 6-volt batteries wired in series or parallel as they set in the tractor? What is the tractor and is it a 6-or-12-volt system?

 

[a49deere]

your tractor is most likely positive ground! The red lead from your charger goes to the post that the cable is hooked to the frame of the tractor. The black lead goes to the post that the large cable goes to the starter.

 

[Mark Poss]

your tractor is most likely positive ground! The red lead from your charger goes to the post that the cable is hooked to the frame of the tractor. The black lead goes to the post that the large cable goes to the starter.

Thank you

 

[Jim.ME]

your tractor is most likely positive ground! The red lead from your charger goes to the post that the cable is hooked to the frame of the tractor. The black lead goes to the post that the large cable goes to the starter.

Best if Mark provides the missing info, to reduce the chance of expensive errors.

 

[Jim.ME]

Thank you

Sorry, I spaced the JD GM.

That tractor was originally a 6 volt system, positive ground, with two 6 volt batteries.

Have you converted it to 12 volts? I am trying to figure out you asking about charging the batteries as one 12 volt if it is a 6 volt system. That is just confusing, as your title is charging 6 volt batteries in series.

Edited to clarify title info.

 

[Mark Poss]

Sorry, I spaced the JD GM.

That tractor was originally a 6 volt system, positive ground, with two 6 volt batteries.

Have you converted it to 12 volts? I am trying to figure out you asking about charging the batteries as one 12 volt if it is a 6 volt system. That is just confusing, as your title is charging 6 volt batteries in series.

Edited to clarify title info.

Sorry for the confusion. I’m not very good with the electric on the tractors, most of mine are hand cranks. The GM has two 6 volt batteries wired in series. It has a 12 volt coil so I’m guessing that it’s been converted to 12 volt.

 

[Jim.ME]

If they are wired in series you need to charge at 12 volts as l described. Battery charger positive lead to the battery positive post with the cable going to the tractor. Charger negative lead on the negative battery post with a cable going to the tractor. There should be a short cable between the negative post of the first battery and the positive post of the second battery.

You haven't told if it is set up as positive or negative ground so I won't try to say which battery post is connected to ground. Does it have a generator and regulator or has it been converted to an alternator?

 

[Mark Poss]

If they are wired in series you need to charge at 12 volts as l described. Battery charger positive lead to the battery positive post with the cable going to the tractor. Charger negative lead on the negative battery post with a cable going to the tractor. There should be a short cable between the negative post of the first battery and the positive post of the second battery.

You haven't told if it is set up as positive or negative ground so I won't try to say which battery post is connected to ground. Does it have a generator and regulator or has it been converted to an alternator?

I apologize. Positive ground with generator

 

[Russ from MN]

You should have paid attention in 7th grade science class!