6 volt or 12 volt ???

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   Some weeks ago I came back from the Lind rally in Kent, when my fuel pump failed, headlights were abismonally dim and the AA were going to be at least two hours.

I decided that 12 volts was for me. I rang my "man" and we agreed to get a shopping list together for the conversion. Yesterday 7/11/02 I visited my "man" and we got chatting about the conversion.

His first question was "Why" (see first paragragh above), he then said - but we havent looked at the problem!! Good point I thought.Why did the fuel pump pack up, The fuse mounting was corroded That could happen on a twelve volt system was the reply.

What wattage are your headlights, 35/35 was my reply, what do you expect he retorted. Fit Halogen lamps instead. Frank supplied a source at the Vines London to Brighton meet.

Does any other member have views on staying with 6 volts, or converting to 12

I am seriously considering sticking with 6 volts with a few enhancements for the next season at least.

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326 Boy Racer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 4	Topic: 6 volt or 12 volt ??? Posted: 08-November-2002 at 20:46
	Some weeks ago I came back from the Lind rally in Kent, when my fuel pump failed, headlights were abismonally dim and the AA were going to be at least two hours. I decided that 12 volts was for me. I rang my "man" and we agreed to get a shopping list together for the conversion. Yesterday 7/11/02 I visited my "man" and we got chatting about the conversion. His first question was "Why" (see first paragragh above), he then said - but we havent looked at the problem!! Good point I thought.Why did the fuel pump pack up, The fuse mounting was corroded That could happen on a twelve volt system was the reply. What wattage are your headlights, 35/35 was my reply, what do you expect he retorted. Fit Halogen lamps instead. Frank supplied a source at the Vines London to Brighton meet. Does any other member have views on staying with 6 volts, or converting to 12 I am seriously considering sticking with 6 volts with a few enhancements for the next season at least.

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hopperspecial Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 21-October-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 6	Posted: 09-November-2002 at 08:51
	My life has been transformed with 12 volts! About a year ago I decided to have the car rewired, and at the same time convert it to 12 volts. There was a dreadful 'loom' with massive wires running everywhere with dirty great junction boxes. You should have seen the debris we took out of there. (I probably lightened the car by a couple of pounds) So I had my 'men' do a nice tidy job with a woven loom, colour coded wires, a modern regulator, fuses and a total system 'kill' switch. So you could possibly say that it was a '12 volt conversion rewire' Anyway, appart from being able to start the thing (my 'pusher' was getting bored looking at the back of my head). Then there's lights - for the first time, when driving at night, I could see where I was going, and people could see me coming. My indicators flashed faster that once every second. I have a car that my partner felt more confident that she could use without me. I can add luxuries like a windscreen wiper, fog lamps, cigarette lighter and stereo (only joking). So for your originality, stick with 6 volt 'plus enhancements' and we'll look out for you by the side of the road - te he!

Nigel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 09-November-2002 Status: Offline Points: 6941	Posted: 20-November-2002 at 22:11
	326 man I dont know anything about your car, but I may be able to help with the voltage verse wattage stuff The formula is wattage = volts x current so 6W = 6V x 1A, 12W = 6V x 2A, as it is linear that means 6W = 12V x 0.5A, and 12W = 12V x 1A. Solder sniffers like me remember this formula as IVY WATTS As you can see, if you changed to 12 volts, you would get the same wattage for half the current, as you have twice the voltage Now, car wiring is amongst the poorest I have ever seen, they get away with this as the international lethal voltages, are, or were when I was a boy, 50 Vac, and 30 Vdc, your car is dc. At these voltage levels wiring is specified in current rating, relays, switches etc tend to have both voltage and current rating. So if you just change your lamps for higher wattage ones, make sure your cables,relays, switches etc can handle this, I have seen friends get into trouble just uprating from 65/55 to 100/80 lamps If you use the above formula on ac circuits, or any of OHMS LAW, please remember to use the RMS and not peak values. My advice, for what it is worth would be to change to 12 volts, if you have anything that must be operated on 6 volts, this level is quite easy to achieve just using two resistors as a potential divider, if you have that problem, e-mail me, and I'll get the details off you so I can work out the ohmic value and wattage for you
	Best Wishes Nigel

326 Boy Racer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 4	Posted: 21-November-2002 at 21:01
	Nigel, Thank you for your response, being a car made in 1937 relay do not come into the equation but I have heard that switches can be prone to problems. I would realy like to stick with originality if possible, that is why I would like to stay with 6 volts. My headlights are 35/35 watt at present, (Glow worms) I have located a source of Halogen lamps since I posted my first comments in south Australia, they are 6 volt 35/35 or the more powerful 55/65 watt. My next step is to get an auto electrician to see if my dymano out put is good or bad at these current drawings. I will probably take up your offer of Ohms law calculations if my dynamo can cope with halogen lamps. I have attached a view of the girl mentioned

hopperspecial Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 21-October-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 6	Posted: 22-November-2002 at 02:35
	Aw and I can't see her, shame! :) Where abouts in S Australia, do you want me to pick some up on my travels?

hopperspecial Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 21-October-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 6	Posted: 22-November-2002 at 02:37
	ps - I've got a spare, concentric, 12v dynamo if you want to try it?

Nigel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 09-November-2002 Status: Offline Points: 6941	Posted: 22-November-2002 at 21:36
	Have another go at posting the piccy, I'd like to see what one looks like
	Best Wishes Nigel

326 Boy Racer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 03-November-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 4	Posted: 10-January-2003 at 19:46
	URIKA 6 Volts is for me, Brilliant headlights, first time starting, Wot more could a boy racer ask for. The trick was to sort out the charging on the dynamo, the dirty earth in the fuse box, and the corroded pin on the head lamp contact. My original posting had 35/35 watt filament head light lamps, I now have 55/60 watt tungsten halogen lamps, and the dynamo is still pumping 3 to 4 amps back into the battery with everything on!!!