The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 6V and 12V at the same time?

I converted to 12V but want to run my 6V wiper motor and a 6V Press-a-Lite from a 12-6V converter.

Here is my question: both 6V devices are grounded to the body - so there is 6V going in from the converter, but where would it go back?
Over the body to the battery - but that's the 12V circuit, and than - wehre would the negative 6V lead of the converter go? Probably not on the body?

Am I overthinking this? I just don't want to ruin something.

thanks, Frank

Hi Frank,
If you are using a 12v to 6v converter (commonly known in the electronic world as a "Buck Converter") then there will be an input for + and - incoming voltage and an output for + and - voltage also. Most of these will be adjustable, but you may find some which are not adjustable. Please look at this one: https://tinyurl.com/2s4hzb6y You will see In+ and Out+ and if you could see the other side, you will see In- and Out-. And then there will be a small blue rectangular cube with a tiny brass screw on top...this is your adjustment device. So in this case, you could take any DC voltage from 6.5v to 60v and convert it into an output DC voltage of 1.5v to 30v. Please tell me...is this similar to the converter you wish to use? This is the best way to convert 12v DC to 6v DC and not be concerned with the 12v ground. Please tell me if you have questions. You will need a converter which has a high amperage output for your wiper motor. This one (10 Amps) should be okay.

There are voltage reducers for our trucks. I would never install a Press-a-light in any of my non fireproof trucks....and I don't allow smoking in them.

Frank, for a real answer you need to specify the brand and part number and pic of the "converter". It will need to handle the amp load of a wiper motor and cigarette heat filament.

The voltages are both referenced relative to the two terminals. You can have both the 12V and the 6V use the frame for ground.

I wanted to be able to use the cigarette lighter socket in my truck for modern 12v devices, but I wanted to limit the socket to 5 amps. I fused it for 5 amps, but worried about someone pushing in the cigarette lighter and blowing the fuse. My solution was grabbing the end of the cigarette heat filament with a pair of needle nose pliers and stripping the filament from the lighter.

What about the "press a light" ??????????? So are we down to just the wiper motor? I'm con"fused".....and another thing, what the heck are you doing with a 6V electric wiper motor? A 12V motor will probably fit right in place if you use the same company. Then sell the 6V and Bob's your uncle. Save the "Buck Converter" to use for the next "Back To The Future" movie.
What about the heater fan motor?

Can you please advise truck and motor with each new post?

This is the one I have: https://www.ebay.de/itm/392277556500


Description says: High power 12 volt to 6 volt 25 amp regulator. .. This unit can also run blower motors and wipers that are 6 volt. Wide input range from 8 to 40v, output is fully protected.



That's what I wanted to hear :-)

Thanks, Frank

I still want to use the Press-a-Lite, and I don't have a heater in the 55 (261).

Thanks Frank,
That will work well for you and as long as your wiper motor is designed to use a negative ground you will be fine to ground it to the frame or body. From your original post, I think this is the case but I do not know about your wiper motor and I do know until sometime around 1965 VWs were 6 volt and positive ground. A friend of mine owned one of them. If by some chance you have one of these 6v wiper motors I think it would be prudent to isolate that motor and provide it with a separate positive and negative voltage.

I got the wiper motor many years ago from J C Whitney , and it's definitely not a VW motor, bolted right in without modifications.

So I guess I should be good.

Thanks for you help gentlemen.

Frank