The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Is it possible to get 12v from a 6v system?

I'm pretty sure you can add a resistor to get from 12v down to 6v, but is it possible to get 12v out of a 6v system?

Alan

Many mobile phones use 5Volt DC 1A chargers. (Charger/adapters reduce voltage down from nominal 12VDC or 110VAC)
First look at your phone charger (or the phone specs) to determine voltage needed

A few people have said their GPSs work on 6v. I'm not that lucky, my Garmin wouldn't work. You can buy step-ups on ebay and other places that will allow you to use your GPS or other 12 device on your truck as long as it's not a thumper stereo. I've got one on my '38 and one on my '53. I can't post ebay links here so PM me if you want the ebay seller's ID. He makes them for both positive and negative ground systems. I say "makes" but I think now he's farmed that out. The first one I bought for the '38 was made by him. The last one, for the '53, was made in China.

Yes. I'm doing it in my 6v 49 3100.
The truck is still 6v witt a couple 12v circuits added to power a tach and power outlet.
I used a 10a 6v to 12v converter off of Amazon (available on ebay also) and added a separate fuse block to isolate it.

I picked the 10amp incase I wanted to add a radio.

Dave

Another option would be a dedicated battery for the GPS such as one of the small sealed gel cells. Use a plug-in charger at home for recharging at night, and you'll have several days' worth of operating capability between charges. Back in the dark ages a guy in my USAF barracks ran an 8 track tape player in a 6V Volkswagen that way, using a full sized 12V battery as a power source. He recharged the battery about once a month.
Jerry

As another example , I use an External Battery Charger w/USB ports to power my iphone on its GPS .
They are all-around handy for many multiple uses (camping, recharging , old vehicle use , home uses, etc) and they are often priced cheap as the good ones start about $20 .
Search fleabay and amzinzon for "External Phone Battery Charger"

A USB charger is only 5 volts, regulated down from usually 12V. Many of them work when fed 6V.

Before spending any money or much effort install or test a cigar lighter socket powered by your 6V with your charger/phone plugged in.

I found that my phone would charge when the 6 volt system is charging. the system generates around 7.5 volts when charging. However at idle it didn't charge. Some devices will give up when the voltage drops at idle. The 6 to 12 volt devices come in nice sealed cases with cooling fins on the outside. Primary fusing is a must.

You could make a dedicated charging cord to go between the cigar socket and the phone/GPS by simply opening up the plug which goes into the cigar socket and bypass the electronics which normally step the voltage down to 6 volts from 12 volts, or just cut off the step down plug and swap in a regular plug devoid of electronics.

Here you go, $30. Amazon Digiten

There's also some electronic kits that you can do yourself, but why?

I used a converter to power the radio in a 6 volt porsche for about 20 years, They work well and are seamless except I also put a switch on it to shut power off since that car was only dirven ocasionally and the converter could eat up the battery in a month or so.

You should be seeing about 7.5 volts against a fully charged battery at cruise RPM of 1800-2000, but somewhat less at idle. Tightening the spring at the regulator coil behind the "F" wire will increase the voltage, but do it very gently. A little bit of adjustment makes a big difference in terminal voltage. Be absolutely sure the battery is fully charged (overnight on a charger) before attempting to adjust the regulator.
Jerry

Thats the one I'm using. Been trouble fee for well over 2 years now. It's regulated to maintain close to 12v output under all loads...
Even used it to power a std 12v timing light. Anther seasonal use is to use it in conjunction with a 400 watt inverter to power a couple stings of Christmas Lights for our annual Christmas parade.

I recommend to fuse the input and each output to protect it, the wiring and the devices it powers.

Dave

Yep, just plug in your GPS or phone into the cigar lighter and it will power it right up.
Been using my TomTom for a few years like that and I'm stock 6v.
I do have a 12v tach and Sony AM/FM/CD player that I power up with a 12v inverter
cube. Ran about a hunert bucks a few years back.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL