battery 6 vs 12

[Anonymous-0]

Would two 6 volt batteries give you more cranking power than one 12 volt. This has to do with an IH 660. thanks

 

[tlak]

I don't think more, I think longer.

 

[Bob]

You would need to know the ratings of the specific batteries you are comparing.

 

[Wheat Farmer]

When hooking Batteries together you can dubble either the amps, or the volts, but not both. We like using two big 12 Volts for 12 volts systems in the winter time for the added turn over power.

 

[JDemaris]

Generally speaking - but not always - 6 volt batteries have heavier plates. So, two 6 volt batteries hooked in series have a bit more overall power and reserve than two 12 volt batteries hooked in parallel.

Sometimes you can just compare the weight of the batteries to give some indication. If a 6 volt weighs 85 lbs. and an equal sized 12 volt only weighs 75 lbs. - then you can assume you're getting more battery with the 6 volt. The BCI battery charts will give you weights, reserve capacities, etc. for all of them.

But - I said "generally speaking." There are cheap and expensive versions in any battery format. The most rugged and durable batteries made are 2 volts each - but they cost fortune and you'd need a bunch to use in a tractor. Telephone companies use them and they tend to last 30 years.

The plus side to using 12 volt automotive batteries is -they have a much better warranty since commercial batteries e.g. most 6 volt models - have very short warranties. For myself - I'll take a cheap auto battery with a 5 year warranty anyday over a commercial battery that costs more and only has a 1 year warranty.

 

[Mike (WA)]

My Oliver 550 diesel is supposed to have 2 - 6 volt batteries in series. I've done it both ways- 2 6's or 1 12, and can't see much difference, if any, in cranking power. I'd just go with the biggest 12 volt that will fit.

 

[buickanddeere]

Correct.

 

[John T]

When you hook two batterys in series (true the voltage is indeed additive DUH), the total stored energy (volts x amps x time) is additive BUT the amps is NOT additive i.e. if each battey was rated say 600 cold cranking amps, two in series is still only 600 amps NOTE Im NOT saying it couldnt crank it longer (more energy storage remember), again, two batterys have double the stored "ENERGY" However if wired in paralell then the available amps into a load is additve although the voltage isnt additive (DUH lol)

A battery is a passive energy storage device and in lead acid batterys the more lead n acid (which generally corresponds to more weight) the more energy that can be stored. It should be intuitive that two 6 volt batterys in series that weigh a total of say 80 lbs probably can store more energy then a 12 that weighs 40 lbs MORE LEAD N ACID which is how it stores its electro chemical energy.

If I had a diesel that started best with a good fast initial spin and the good fast spin was more important then how long it cranked over, Id opt for whatever battery arrangement could supply the most cranking amps (perhaps a couple 12's in paralell). If you had a gas that didnt necessarily need to spin over all that fast buttttttttt started only after a good long cranking, then Id opt for the most energy storage (perhaps two 6's in series)

Nuff said

John T

 

[NEsota]

My choice would be to use two six volt batteries. The parts are heavier and there are only about half as many of them, really