On my searches I came across this style 12 volt to 6 volt reducers. Was wondering if any of you had ever used this style and what your thoughts were on them? And yes the price on them is CHEAP that's why I'm asking.
The only really good one I've heard of for old gauges is called a RUNTZ. And this spelling may be wrong. Not cheap but neither are old gauges.
This is the ones I use http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Electric-12-Volt-to-6-Volt-Reducer-for-Motors,15824.html
They are $17.99 http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Electric-12-Volt-to-6-Volt-Reducer-for-Motors,15824.html I use one for each fog light, never a problem.
For voltage drop you need some sort of resistor which is what this looks like (not a transistor nor diode) The one in the photo says it will handle .4 amps and is recommended for only one dash gauge so this is probably just an inline resistor. Anything requiring heavier amperage loads usually involves some heat build up which is why they typically are made of ceramics or aluminum to act as a heat sync. I'd make sure that whatever I use this dash gauge voltage drop thingy for stays within the .4 amp range or ****!
Sure it's a diode, but it is likely a zener diode, which can be reverse biased and used as a voltage regulator for low-current applications. It's most definitely NOT a resistor. Zeners are used quite a bit to supply the reference voltage for higher current regulators. So never say never..... If you need a reducer for gauges, you really should use an electronic regulator. The item that S**** Iron referenced is OK for heater motors and such that have a higher current draw, but since it is just a simple 1 ohm resistor it would not reduce the voltage much at all in a gauge application. So it all depends on what you need the reducer for.
Knew it had to be too good to be true for the price. I'm not an electrician that's why I asked before buying.
Ebbsspeed has it. It s a Zener diode. If you don t know how to use it, don t use it. The resistor value is really important , so are the watt it can support before burning. Good and cheap chips ( ) are the LM7805 voltage reductor. Easy to use, not expansive won t burn even if they have too much load and a lot of do***entation on them. After playing with electronics for about 25 years ,I can t find ANY reason to use anything else in a dash.