Ok, I am sure someone out there has had this problem besides me. I run the original 6 volt system and generator and have airbags on my car so I have a 12 volt battery sitting in my trunk to run the compressors. I have to pull out the charger every time it gets low. Does anyone know of someone that makes a 6 volt to 12 volt converter that would limit the output and allow me to charge up the 12 volt battery in my trunk with my 6 volt system. Or is there a better way to do this?
You should be able to get an inverter to do that. I fly a plane that has 24 volts and it has 12v plugs in it. I have no idea where to get them but they are out there somewhere.
Two 6-volt batteries for the 12v, battery isolators to charge separately. Complete 12v system is best way.
Using an inverter would be very inefficient. A lot of energy would be lost as heat that would need dissipation. You might try a 6volt motor for the pump.
There was once a "series-parallel switch" available that allowed the use of two 6v batteries, charged and used in a 6v system, that changed to 12v on demand. Haven't seen them advertised for years, though. You could make a setup yourself, using starter solenoids, but it wouldn't be pretty! You'd need like three of them, one to make and break connection between the two 6v's to get 12v, and two more to join the + and - posts for 6v operation.
That is the easiest. Why keep it 6 volt? The 6 volt generator would be at it limits trying to keep batteries charged for the 12 volt compressor. Neal
run an additional alternator? just wire it to charge your 12 volt battery only. pretty simple, and it gets the job done. wouldnt need a big amp alternator either.
If you're not opposed to installing a 12V charging system then drop the voltage to everything else. I would recommend changing the lighting circuits to 12v......
Well, the 6 volt system seems to work fine right now so I don't really feel the need to convert to 12 volts yet. I am trying to go the simplest easiest route at the moment. Maybe a 12 volt conversion would be good down the road sometime. I have thought about adding an alternator just to charge the battery in the trunk. But I haven't figured out exactly how to mount it up yet, I would need to make a bracket and figure it out. I guess it's not to complicated. Two 6 volt batteries in the trunk is another interesting idea. I just thought someone would make some type of converter that would allow this. I'm not trying to hop my car all day long, I just don't want to have to plug my trunk into a light socket every few weeks.
I used to have 24 volt vehicles that I had to run 12V accessories on. A company called VANNER made devices that would balance the charge between the two 12V batteries. with out this unit, one gets overcharged and one goes dead. You need the same thing with 12V to 2 six volt batteries. You would only need to convert the generator to 12V. That;s really as simple as putting a 12V regulator to it, or readjusting your regulator to 14.2 Volts. Leave the Amp side of the regulator set at whatever it's supposed to be at. It's the Amp load that will kill the generator if you jack that up. This way you can have the whole car on 6V and your newer stuff on 12V. But it;s probably cheaper and easier to change the car all to 12V. Frank
These guys makem......... Have no idea if they sell in the US of A but they do take credit cards...... http://www.gsl.com.au/ First one would do it............ http://www.gsl.com.au/products/pin-vdoublers.pdf
That switch is still available from J.C. Whitney. I used one for 20 years on my '53 F-100. ('course I only used the 12v to crank the engine.)
There is a guy over at the P15-D24 forum with a 12v alternator and a 6v generator both. A tiny import 12v alternator will work fine, you will probably want to add another pulley for it so you can adjust the tension separately and get enough wrap-around on the various pulleys.
I have seen a couple 6 to 12 voltage doublers but they did not limit the current output and would overcharge the battery. I am wondering if this would work for a battery charging operation, I have written them an email to find out. I think this may be the easiest way if it would work. I have an extra alternator I pulled out of a miata that should do the job. It looks like I would have to change the pulley, get a longer belt, and make a bracket to mount it up. Making the new mounting bracket thats going to work right looks like it is going to be a pain but it's possible.
I've got a solar powered trickle charger. It's made to simply plug into a lighter socket. I think it was under $20 at Harbor Feright. Just put it on the rear shelf and forget about it. It won't put out alot of current, but then, you don't really need it to, it just needs to keep the battery topped up. You could also run a trickle charger pigtail somewhere incon****uous, and plug it in at night.
The Jalopy Journal
