6 volt solinoid..can I ???

Wick

Wick

Well-known member
ive got a 3 post solidonid 6volt,can I run 12 volt thru it? Can I use a 12v alternator with it?
Thanks
Wick
 
You can do it, but it won't last very long. Maybe about 10 times. The 12 volt ones are easy to come by, so I wold break down and buy one.
 
I tried to use a 6V sol with 12V. The first time I hit the button, it fried to the "on" position. Had to disconnect the battery to stop the starter from turning. Man, was that cable hot!
 
Starter solenoids, I haven't had much luck with. They burn out and or stick quickly with the 12 volt conversion. Overdrive solenoids have been a different story for me though. I know all the experts have said they wouldn't last, but I'm almost 10 years, close to 20 thousand on the original 6 volt overdrive solenoid on my car. Works very time.
I wonder what others have experienced here...slim
 
Holy cow - I've never, ever had a problem using 6V starter relay on 12V. Ever. In fact, I prefer the 6V ones because I find it hard to find the 12V ones with the manual button on the bottom.

Mind you, they have to be wired up correctly...and wiring up a 12V one typically means rewiring your starter switch to supply 12V to the starter relay instead of a ground as the 6V ones do.

Unlike the overdrive solenoids which are constant use, the starter relays are intermittent use, so should last forever on 12V.
 
As V8Paul said, I've had 6volt ones stick and the starter keeps running. They usually go quite awhile and then stick when you don't want it to. Walt
 
Well.... Ive got to wire the speedster up from scratch so ill try the 6 volt one.
Guess I should have mentioned this is for my Model A Speedster with the 4cyl.
12v- ground with push button start,also will have a Master Batt.Switch.
thanks
Wick
 
The next time your solenoid sticks just tap it sharply with a wrench or any solid object and it will usually stop. The ones with the button on the bottom are worse about sticking.
 
I say use the 6 volt. Mine's been on my 39 for 21 years.
Forgot to add, it was on there when I got the car that had been sitting for 22 years in Texas. Ford solenoids are tough
 
There are two distinct types of relays or solenoids manufactured. The starter types are an intermittent activation relay that is designed to pull hard & fast but only for momentary activation and they usually have heavier copper wire windings in them. What sticks in them is the copper washer sort of welds itself to the terminal contacts. The other type of relay in the holding coil type that is designed to be turned on and left that way the whole time the system needs to be operated and they usually have fine copper wire windings. This is where the overdrive relay and the starter relay differ. The OD relay is a holding coil and the starter relay is momentary coil. Actually the OD relay is both intermittent and holding but its controls points are internal. They are all affected by voltage increases but a 6-volt change is not too much of a difference. On aircraft there is a big difference between 12-volt and 24-volt so it does matter there.

Kerby
 
I think the safety aspect of having a start button that needs key on to operate makes it worth it to change out that solonoid. Kids like to sit in cars and poke at things, and if you are in the habit of leaving it in gear so it won't roll back in the garage, you could end up pinned to your workbench. I know your grandkids and mine listen when you say don't, the next owner's might not. Just a thought. ..B.
 
Good luck keeping that simple switch on the clutch mechanism reliably adjusted. Mine will always be electrically interlocked with the key while you will be sometimes underneath jiggling a mechanical switch so it will get you started. ..B.
 
If its an old type with two large terminals and one small terminal, there is an internal connection from the actuator coil to the one of the larger terminals. The small terminal just needs to be grounded to make the plunger move inside as long as the battery and starter terminals are connected.

Kerby
 
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