How to Hook Up 6-Volt Battery for 12 Volts
Voltage represents the force of electrical energy that flows from a battery, which means that a 6-volt battery produces half the electrical force of a 12-volt battery. If you hook up your 6-volt battery to an electrical device that operates on 12 volts, the device won't work or it will run very slowly. However, if you don't have a 12-volt battery, there's a simple way to operate your 12-volt device: wire two 6-volt batteries in series to get an output of 12 volts.
Things You'll Need
- 2 6-volt batteries
- AWG 16-gauge wire
- Knife
- Wire strippers
- Electrical tape
Instructions
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1
Put your two 6-volt batteries next to each other on a workbench or table.
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2
Cut three strips of AWG 16-gauge wire, using a knife. Cut two strips long enough so you can connect your 6-volt batteries to the electrical device you want to power. Use a tape measure or ruler to measure the distance between the device and the batteries. Cut the third strip three to four inches long.
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3
Remove 1/2 an inch of the protective plastic off the ends of the three strips of wire, using a knife or wire strippers if you have them. If you only have a knife, run the edge of the knife carefully around the plastic 1/2 an inch from the end, cutting into the plastic. Pull the plastic off the end with your fingers.
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4
Cut a strip of electrical tape about three inches long using a knife. Put the end of the short strip of wire on the negative (-) terminal of the first 6-volt battery. Place the tape on top of the terminal and wire and fold the tape down the sides of the battery so it secures the wire to the terminal. Connect the opposite end of the short wire strip to the positive (+) terminal of the second 6-volt battery using the same method.
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5
Place the end of one of the long strips of wire on the positive terminal of the first battery using a strip of tape. Place one end of the second strip of wire on the negative terminal of the second battery using a strip of tape.
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6
Connect the opposite end of the long strip of wire that's attached to the positive terminal of the first 6-volt battery to the positive terminal of the 12-volt electrical device you want to power. Connect the opposite end of the long strip of wire that's attached to the negative terminal of the second 6-volt battery to the negative terminal of the electrical device. The circuit is complete as you have hooked up two 6-volt batteries to produce 12 volts.
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References
- Photo Credit Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images
