Dischareing

[Fireman580]

My battery ran down so I had to charge it, It is a 6volt, now my amp gage showes discharge all the time. When I turn my lights on it goes to the + side a bit. Can I get some help plesae, Thanks

[jmeckel]

Are you sure you did not reverse the polarity on the battery by charging it backwards??? (Yes that is possible to do when the battery is completely dead, by hooking the charger up backwards.) Otherwise if you took the battery out to charge you must have put it back in backwards. The most common cause of the amp meter show charge instead of discharge is the wires on the back of it reversed, however they do not reverse by themselves.

[Fireman580]

I had it hooked up right and it was in the car.

[jmeckel]

If no wires were removed or the battery taken out... take a volt meter (not a test light) and check the battery to be sure the positive post is still positive.

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by Fireman580

I had it hooked up right and it was in the car.

You had the red charger clamp going to the cable to the starter and the
black clamp going to the cable going to the frame.

[Tom Wesenberg]

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What made the battery go low, and how low was it?

[tbirdtbird]

it is backwards charged. I did it once myself, much to my surprise.
Turn the headlights on and walk away for a day and let it slowly discharge. Then recharge with the correct polarity

[Patrick L.]

I think the fellas are right. If the ammeter worked correctly before, the battery is probably charged assbackwards. Remember these monsters are POSITIVE ground.

[Growley bear]

I connected my battery with RED + connected to ground and BLACK - connected to the starter. That way when I connect a charger R to R and B to B. I did it that way as Negative Ground has been with us for so long that connecting a charger on backwards is easily done. Some 6 volt systems were NEG ground but not the Ford.

Chet

[johnbuckley]

Originally Posted by Growley bear

..... Some 6 volt systems were NEG ground but not the Ford.... Chet

Yeah, but during the past eighty years someone may have changed the car's polarity around- not unknown.

[Ron Lowe]

I had the same thing happen recently. My problem was the cut-out was faulty. You might try to use a jumper wire to by-pass the cut-out and then start the car to see if it's charging.

[Growley bear]

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

Yeah, but during the past eighty years someone may have changed the car's polarity around- not unknown.

I agree, in 80+ years much can happen.

[Hicktick]

I am reading what some are saying , but do you think a new 6 v battery on the shelf is charged positive ground like you are saying .??/

I am trying to get it strait in my head ..

[Fireman580]

The brake light stuck on.

[Bob C]

So why the charge on the ammeter when you turned the lights on?

Bob

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by Hicktick

I am reading what some are saying , but do you think a new 6 v battery on the shelf is charged positive ground like you are saying .??/

I am trying to get it strait in my head ..

The battery may be charged when you buy it, but, doesn't become positive or negative ground until you hook it up that way.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Hicktick

I am reading what some are saying , but do you think a new 6 v battery on the shelf is charged positive ground like you are saying .??/

I am trying to get it strait in my head ..

??
A battery on the shelf has no ground.
Just make sure the LARGEST post is +.

BTW, if the battery was charged backwards, it may or may not be good when you drain it and charge it the correct way. Years ago I had one that wouldn't take the correct charge again.

Yesterday I had a problem with my Cub Cadet 149 flooding and I must have left the key on because today it was stone dead. It has points and coil ignition and I think as cold as it was outside I may have gotten lucky and not burned out the coil. I'm recharging the battery now while I overhaul the carb. I think some of the rubber hose fell apart due to crap gas and was holding the needle and seat open.

[tbirdtbird]

Originally Posted by Hicktick

I am reading what some are saying , but do you think a new 6 v battery on the shelf is charged positive ground like you are saying .??/

I am trying to get it strait in my head ..

?????
a brand new battery off the shelf is of course charged with the correct polarity. What we are saying is that if you have a battery that is dead or nearly dead then it is possible for the end-user (us Model A owners) to charge it backwards (reverse polarity).

If you tried to hook up backwards on a partially discharged battery the charger overload would kick in right away and you would hear a click and the charger would shut down

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by Fireman580

The brake light stuck on.

That'll certainly flatten the battery, but, with the brake lights on [ or any other lights,etc.] the ammeter shouldn't read to the right [ + ] with the generator not turning.

[jm29henry]

I had the same problem IT WAS THE CUT OUT STUCK replace or repair the cut out .