Inadvertently switched from pos to neg; did I damage?

[lizard]

I edited my post:

Greetings,

My '37 ran great until parked for 3 years. I replaced the battery and inadvertently installed it as neg ground. Then I trickle charged it. When I realized it, I turned the battery around and connected it for positive ground. When I hit the starter button, there's nothing. Did I damage the electrical system?

PS - I unsuccessfully searched the forum. Thanks in advance.

[69a]

I'm no expert, but I have done it, with no ill effect. As long as you don't have a modern radio or electronics.
I've also charged a dead flat battery the wrong way! I just turned on the lights until it went flat, and then recharged it with the correct polarity.

[lizard]

Originally Posted by 69a

I'm no expert, but I have done it, with no ill effect. As long as you don't have a modern radio or electronics.
I've also charged a dead flat battery the wrong way! I just turned on the lights until it went flat, and then recharged it with the correct polarity.

Thanks for your reply. Hopefully others will provide comment.

[ThirstyThirty]

Originally Posted by lizard

I edited my post:

Greetings,

My '37 ran great until parked for 3 years. I replaced the battery and inadvertently installed it as neg ground. Then I trickle charged it. When I realized it, I turned the battery around and connected it for positive ground. When I hit the starter button, there's nothing. Did I damage the electrical system?

PS - I unsuccessfully searched the forum. Thanks in advance.

if it was my problem, I would start with a voltmeter and see what's going on with the battery. fully charged, should be able to easily find out why the starter will not respond accordingly when asked to do its thing.

as for any damage, I doubt you damaged the electrical system's wiring. however, time will tell if any of its components were damaged.

not suggesting this as a method of approach, but as kids we was famous for just grounding the battery cable - to ground (frame) and see if we got any spark if we had no start issues. etc. !

[TJ]

Also check your starter button. If it is a repo button they are not the best and don't always work.

[lizard]

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Thanks Thirsty and TJ.

[3quarter32]

Couple of year ago battery was dead in my 46. I was dark when I hooked the charger to it and I had the charger lead hooked neg to pos. I did quite a bit of checking things before I figured out my mistake. It change the polarity on the battery. l hooked a couple of head light lamps to the battery to totally discharge it. I recharged the battery

the correct way and it changed polarity back to plus on positive post. It would only hold a charge for a short time, like over night. Had to replace the battery.

[Flathead Fever]

Like everybody said, the battery just might be dead. Let it slow charge for a day sometimes they come back, I bought 6V gel battery for a Model A I have and then had stroke and haven't installed it yet. It's been siting for two-years and still has a full charge. It's made me a believer in gel batteries. Especially for cars that sit around and hardly get used. The positive ground thing can really screw with your head, it happens. Were so used to negative ground.

[Bored&Stroked]

As long as your "trickle charge" was the right direction, nothing should be hurt. If you charged it the wrong direction, then who knows . . .

I would check it with a voltmeter and if you still have issues, then checkout the starter circuit.

[lizard]

Thanks Bored, Flathead F, and 3quarter.

[fordv8j]

I got a Ferguson tractor from my cousin, he connected the battery, I drove it 4 miles, it was showing discharge, when I got home , noticed the battery was connected wrong, they are also positive ground, connected it back to positive ground, started charging, still does, so you're probably ok