The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Convertor to put 12v stereo in 6v system

Looking for a 6v to 12v convertor so I can put a 12v stereo in my 6v Chevy truck. Anyone know where to find one. The ones I found are around $150. Looking for a cheaper one.

Should be one at Jim Carters if I remember right. If I wasn't going to be using mine any time soon I'd send you mine, but it's probably 20 years or older.

probably still works though

Yeah, it does. That's why almost everything on my truck works like it is supposed to! American craftsmanship and pride. Wish I had a manual for it, some of the wires got disconnected that go to the 8-track and the added on speakers.

Just checked Jim Carter's for you and it is $75.00 for a booster. Sounds like it is a better deal than the $150.00.

Thanks, appreciate it

You're welcome.

That's where I got my voltage booster from, it's the same one I’ve installed in mine sailor. I power a Sony CDX-GT420U, AM/FM/CD etc., plus my 12v tach is powered by it. It works just fine and I’ve had no problems with it. I’ve often parked at a show for several hours and forgot to turn the radio, tach and booster off, (I have it switched separately from the ignition) even after leaving the radio, tach head and booster on for several hours the truck started just fine, so there is very little drain on the battery.
I see in another thread that you were considering converting to 12v? On my stock 1950, 3604 all of the electrical connections and components have been cleaned and restored/rebuilt I have not had any trouble starting even in the cooler weather or driving at night with it over the last 2years and approximately 6,000 miles. I think the 6v system is completely adequate for a relatively stock AD truck if you maintain it properly and keep it in top shape and see no need to convert to 12v unless you are planning some major upgrades to the vehicle or using it in an extremely cold climate.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Denny,

What is the maximum power output rating on that transformer?

What is the maximum wattage output of a 12v radio that the transformer will handle? Will it work with JC's radios: RA499C, RA499G, RA500C, and RA500G?

Thanks,
Tim

3.5amps 42watts continuous for the booster. 52w x 4 for the radio. A pair of 25w speakers.
Obvously there are some missmatches here but in my case all I was looking for is to have FM capability with a couple of speaker in the bottom of the doors. I'm not looking to drive four 12" coaxial speakers in suround sound and rattle windows.
Denny G

Why not just convert to a 12V system? That $150 would go a long way, and you'd get the benefit of better starting and brighter headlights. Just a thought.

Why not keep the $150 in your pocket, clean the grounds & have good starting anyway? My 38 doesn't go fast enough to need brighter headlights.

I've reached another hang up on the 12v conversion. I found that the only reason that my truck was so slow at turning over was that the battery cables are going bad! Although, if something does decide to retire and give up, I have everything I need now to convert and it didn't cost me a dime. But, I do think that 6v is fine as long as connections are clean and something isn't about to kill itself. So I say that you should keep it. That $150 or more to get what you need to convert(if someone doesn't give it to you for free) is just as much as getting those expensive converters, so why would you want to convert?