Hotrodders.com -- Hot Rod Forum



Register FAQ Search Today's Posts Unanswered Posts
Hotrodders Bulletin Board > Tech Help> Electrical
User Name
Password
lost password?   |   register now

Register now (free) or login to remove ads

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread share on Facebook  
  #1  
Old 02-24-2008, 03:23 PM
overthehill overthehill is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6
Wiki Edits: 0

changing 6volt to 12volt

I just purchased a 1940 Plymouth sedan. Everything on it is 6 volt except the 12 volt elect. fuel pump that the last owner put on it. It has a 12 volt battery. What do I need to do to change to a 12v system? Can I put 1 step down some where in line, or do I need to put a step down for every gauge, lights, etc.....
Thank You.
Dan
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links

Register now (free) or login to remove ads
  #2  
Old 02-24-2008, 05:09 PM
matt167 matt167 is offline
Member
 
Last wiki edit: Ford axle ratio codes
Last journal entry: Rear Suspension
Last photo:
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Prattsville
Posts: 5,718
Wiki Edits: 31

That's positive ground 6v.. how is it hooked up now? pos or neg ground?

you need to step down the voltage at every gauge, and change every 6v bulb to a 12v bulb
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-24-2008, 05:10 PM
T-bucket23's Avatar
T-bucket23 T-bucket23 is offline
Hotrodders.com Moderator
 
Last wiki edit: 15 minutes to check an engine's basic health Last photo:
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Age: 54
Posts: 4,215
Wiki Edits: 26

Quote:
Originally Posted by overthehill
I just purchased a 1940 Plymouth sedan. Everything on it is 6 volt except the 12 volt elect. fuel pump that the last owner put on it. It has a 12 volt battery. What do I need to do to change to a 12v system? Can I put 1 step down some where in line, or do I need to put a step down for every gauge, lights, etc.....
Thank You.
Dan


How are you charging the 12V battery, has the generator system also been changed over. I think there are units that will step the whole system down. I would just wire the pump in ahead of the system somewhere.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-24-2008, 06:07 PM
overthehill overthehill is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6
Wiki Edits: 0

6v to 12v

Thanks for your replies. It is a neg. ground. Just found out today that the gen. does'nt seem to be putting out. Died when Battery was dis-connected. I am the second owner of this car. It was once a police car, the siren mount is still on the engine. I think it would be nice to keep it as original as possible, but I also want to avoid headaches down the road.
Any leads on who reconditions the gauges?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-25-2008, 07:19 AM
Tilar Tilar is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Depends on the time of year
Posts: 10
Wiki Edits: 0

Years ago Ron Francis had some that would drop voltage to the whole dash instead of adding one to each gauge.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-25-2008, 07:37 AM
WildBill WildBill is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CT
Posts: 101
Wiki Edits: 0

6/12V solution

Here's one way to do it.

Get an old style 12V battery which have the bars on the top you can see connecting the cells and a 12V generator or alternator.

Drill a hole in the middle top bar of the battery and tap it. From that middle bar to ground in either direction you will have 6V. In other words, from the tap to the positive terminal will be 6V and from the tap to the negative terminal will be 6V. Hook up the alternator and battery as a 12V system and use the tap for powering lights, gauges, and anything else that needs 6V.

Note: You will probably need to rig a relay for the starter switch if it provides power to the cars accessories (likely) so that it sees only 6V and the new relay you install connects 12V to the starter relay.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-27-2008, 10:16 AM
Magnus_Jager's Avatar
Magnus_Jager Magnus_Jager is offline
Tow Chainer
 
Last wiki edit: Rebuilding an early Hemi engine
Last journal entry: cruise pics
Last photo:
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Western NYS
Age: 41
Posts: 245
Wiki Edits: 2

If its anything like my 54 dodge you have 1 electrical gauge, the fuel gauge there are several drops for it, from the one for a ford gauge (this has been making my fuel gauge jump) to resistors. Rest are mechanical (oil, temp), or don't care (amp meter). Plus you probably want to get rid of the old wiring harness if its rotted at all or chaffed.

Also do you have electric wipers? And there are the fans. I'm probably gonna run mine on 12v, I have spare sets of fans, and will hopefully not use the wiper much. They have heavier draws and take different drops than the gauge, and most of those produce a fair amount of heat.

You will also have to step down the coil from 12v, or get a 12 v resisted coil/

Mine's still in progress, so I can't verify everything. Do a search on the forum there have been lots of these put out, my previous ones included.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-28-2008, 08:07 PM
overthehill overthehill is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6
Wiki Edits: 0

Changing 6volt To 12 Volt

Thanks To All Who Replied To My Question.
I Have Decided To Keep The 6 Volt Sys. For Now, But I May Change
Over To A 12 Volt Sys. In The Future. Thanks Again For All The In-
Put
Over The Hill
Reply With Quote
Back to top

Recent Electrical posts with photos



Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads for: "changing 6volt to 12volt"
ThreadThread StarterForumRepliesLast Post
changing valve springs on car?noah55Engine705-30-2007 08:47 PM
Changing sanding blocks, when changing grits, is this good or bad?RippedBody - Exterior202-06-2007 04:47 PM
What is involved in Changing Camshafts?rick458Engine1201-27-2005 08:56 PM
changing gears1980ImpalaTransmission - Rearend303-24-2004 11:14 PM
Changing A 6Volt to 12 volt systemone64cadillactrampElectrical405-04-2002 01:58 PM



Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 2.3.2 © 2005, Crawlability, Inc.
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:16 PM.
Copyright Hotrodders.com 1999 - 2012. All Rights Reserved.