Grounded

I took a closer look at some of the wiring connections on Cornelius, and noted that the main ground strap from the battery to the frame looked tired and frayed.

While grounding is critical for any automotive electrical system, it is especially so on a 6-volt system! Connections must be clean and tight throughout. Also, you need to remember that a 6-volt system utilizes twice the amperage (current through the wiring) that a 12-volt system does, so the wiring needs to be sized accordingly. You can use #2 wires for the starter and ground on a 12-volt system, but you should use #0 for a 6-volt system (no less than #2 for ground strap).

Accordingly, I found a company that custom-manufactures braided cables – Custom Battery Cables. I was impressed with the pricing, turnaround time, and most importantly – quality. I purchased a 14-inch, #2 braided ground strap. I felt that #2 was adequate for this application due to the short distance.

Once installed, the new ground strap definitely seemed to make a difference. Charging and starting both seem improved.