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Old 12-20-2011, 08:12 AM   #1
31chevy
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Default 6 volt relays

Any one know where to purchase 6 volt relays ? Thank you in advance.
Gary.
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Old 12-20-2011, 08:30 AM   #2
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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Any one know where to purchase 6 volt relays ? Thank you in advance.
Gary.
I was told NAPA has them but I had no luck or help in finding them. I found a good one on Ebay if you want a good old mechanical type relay made in the USA. Ebay item # 350247109257,this was actually one made for auto industry by RBM probably right here in my hometown in Ohio. I am using it to relay power to a four fuse panel for fuel pump switch,heater and turn signal switch and radio. If you search Ebay for 6 volt relay you get quite a few choices and a couple new ones I imagine solid state made in China ,Mexico Portugal etc. I was told a couple weeks ago on Fordbarn that Bosch makes a good one but never found a 6 volt one. Fordbarners are great help, Henry/Kokomo took the time to send me a diagram of where everything should go and how to hook up.
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Old 09-02-2014, 07:07 PM   #3
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

"I was told a couple weeks ago on Fordbarn that Bosch makes a good one but never found a 6 volt one."

Early 1950-60 VW uses them:
Bosch SPDT
6V 30 amp Relay
0332204001
Used as dimmer relay
In 1950 to 1966 VW
Also listed as:
Merced 0035340245
Porsche PCG61510100
John Deere AR91168
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Old 12-20-2011, 08:33 AM   #4
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

Depending on your needs, you might try NAPA. They may be able to get 6 volt, early '50s horn and/or headlight relays that look "period correct". For something smaller and less obtrusive, I'd check Radio Shack. Your degree of success may depend on the experience of the people who wait on you in the stores. Maybe an on-line search? FWIW
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Old 12-20-2011, 09:05 AM   #5
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

You could use a ford 1939 to 1948 horn relay it is 6 volts. And keeps your car all Ford. For example, Mac's auto has them for $12.
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Old 12-20-2011, 09:46 AM   #6
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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You could use a ford 1939 to 1948 horn relay it is 6 volts.
A horn relay wouldn't work because the primary circuit is energized by grounding only. It can't be powered by an independent power source as relays typically are. It shares it's power source with the secondary circuit.
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Old 12-20-2011, 12:40 PM   #7
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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A horn relay wouldn't work because the primary circuit is energized by grounding only. It can't be powered by an independent power source as relays typically are. It shares it's power source with the secondary circuit.

I am interested in your statement. With a positive ground horn relay you ground the circuit and the relay closes , the power comes directly from the negative power source to what ever. So what if it shares the negative. If the relay operates a horn why would not operate something else. Not arguing, trying to learn.
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Old 12-20-2011, 02:04 PM   #8
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

I'm learning, too. I have "heard" that a horn relay isn't designed for continuous duty and maybe not adequate for load that would need to be energized for extended periods. I don't know how valid that is, but a horn is usually operated only intermittently.
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Old 12-20-2011, 03:33 PM   #9
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

i installed a 6 volt electric fan on my av8 and mounted a model a cut out relay that was on the generator to my firewall.one wire to the fan and the other to the ignition switch. works fine. i have one on ebay right now, that has the ford script on it . my car mine trying to keep old school, and that is old school JAN. i also used a inline fuse from fan to relay.
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Old 12-20-2011, 04:00 PM   #10
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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I'm learning, too. I have "heard" that a horn relay isn't designed for continuous duty and maybe not adequate for load that would need to be energized for extended periods. I don't know how valid that is, but a horn is usually operated only intermittently.
Bench test a horn relay for continuous use and you'll find it gets too hot to touch within a minute.
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Old 12-20-2011, 04:22 PM   #11
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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I am interested in your statement. With a positive ground horn relay you ground the circuit and the relay closes , the power comes directly from the negative power source to what ever. So what if it shares the negative. If the relay operates a horn why would not operate something else. Not arguing, trying to learn.
Thanks for your question.

When I first saw the inquiry about a 6 volt relay I had the same thought, "Why not a horn relay?" and was about to post such until I thought about it further.

In the picture and diagram below you'll note that the horn relay has just three connections. One (marked B for battery) is to apply current to the relay which is attached to both the primary and secondary circuits inside. A second contact (marked S for switch) attaches to the wire that goes through the horn button to ground. The third connection (marked H for horn) goes to the horn. When the primary circuit is grounded it completes the circuit that energize the electromagnet and closes the secondary circuit which then powers the horn. That's fine if that's all you want to do - close a switch to a larger load by closing a switch to ground. That's exactly the same as the starter solenoid. But, you can't switch on a load through that kind of relay by turning on the ignition switch. That is because such function requires two seperate isolated circuits through the relay as illustrated and explained below.





The usual use for a relay is to use a low current such as from the ignition switch to close the relay and power a higher current need such as a fuel pump, heater fan, stereo, etc. As you can see in the pictures and schematic below, for it to work like that you need 4 connections. One (85) that takes low current from the primary source such as the ignition switch, a second one (86) to ground for that primary circuit, a third (30) that takes the higher current from the battery, and the fourth (87) that sends the higher current to its higher need.






The only way a horn relay could be made to work like that would be by hooking it up "backwards." You would use the primary connection that would normally come from the battery as a ground. Then run your primary source from the ignition switch to the ground connection on the relay (that would normally go to the horn button.) The accessory to be switched by the secondary circuit would have to have the current go directly to it first then through a ground wire to the horn connection of the relay so that when it was energized it would be grounded and work. It could work like that but you'd have to insulate the accessory from ground and complete the ground circuit through the relay.

Better to just get a standard 4 connection relay for switching high current with low current such as the one I posted in #5 also shown above with the same schematic on the side of that relay as is shown above or a headlight relay that works exactly as described above.
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Last edited by Old Henry; 12-21-2011 at 12:17 AM.
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Old 12-20-2011, 07:35 PM   #12
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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Thanks for your question.

When I first saw the inquiry about a 6 volt relay I had the same thought, "Why not a horn relay?" and was about to post such until I thought about it further.

In the picture and diagram below you'll note that the horn relay has just three connections. One (marked B for battery) is to apply current to the relay which is attached to both the primary and secondary circuits inside. A second contact (marked S for switch) attaches to the wire that goes through the horn button to ground. The third connection (marked H for horn) goes to the horn. When the primary circuit is grounded it completes the circuit that energize the electromagnet and closes the secondary circuit which then powers the horn.





The usual use for a relay is to use a low current such as from the ignition switch to close the relay and power a higher current need such as a fuel pump, heater fan, stereo, etc. As you can see in the pictures and schematic below, for it to work like that you need 4 connections. One (85) that takes low current from the primary source such as the ignition switch, a second one (86) to ground for that primary circuit, a third (30) that takes the higher current from the battery, and the fourth (87) that sends the higher current to its higher need.






A horn relay could be made to work by hooking it up "backwards." You would use the primary connection that would normally come from the battery as a ground. Then run your primary source from the ignition switch to the ground connection on the relay (that would normally go to the horn button.) The accessory to be switched by the secondary circuit would have to have the current go directly to it first then through a ground wire to the horn connection of the relay so that when it was energized it would be grounded and work. It could work like that but you'd have to insulate the accessory from ground and complete the ground circuit through the relay.

Better to just get a standard 4 connection relay for switching high current with low current such as the one I posted in #5 also shown above with the same schematic on the side of that relay as is shown above.
What about the relay I mentioned in my first post. It is a headlamp relay with a 20 amp fuse and 4 terminals,battery,switch ,ground and power out? Old school Made in the USA.
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Old 12-20-2011, 09:43 AM   #13
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

Here's a 12 volt one that you could run down to Radio Shack and pick up for under $5.00. It would probably work with 6 volt since it doesn't take much juice to activate the electromagnet for a relay. The secondary (switched) side of the relay doesn't care about voltage since it's just a switch. If it doesn't work, just take it back. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3020762

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Old 09-06-2012, 04:53 PM   #14
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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Here's a 12 volt one that you could run down to Radio Shack and pick up for under $5.00. It would probably work with 6 volt since it doesn't take much juice to activate the electromagnet for a relay. The secondary (switched) side of the relay doesn't care about voltage since it's just a switch. If it doesn't work, just take it back. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=3020762
I just bought this 12 volt relay from Radio Shack and it works fine on 6 volts. Just thought someone might like to know.
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Old 09-06-2012, 06:14 PM   #15
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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I just bought this 12 volt relay from Radio Shack and it works fine on 6 volts. Just thought someone might like to know.
More than likely, you got lucky and the likelyhood of continued, dependable operation would be suspect in my book. DD
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Old 09-02-2014, 02:10 PM   #16
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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I just bought this 12 volt relay from Radio Shack and it works fine on 6 volts. Just thought someone might like to know.
Low voltage will cause it to heat up and burn out sooner if it works at all
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Old 09-02-2014, 07:12 PM   #17
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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I just bought this 12 volt relay from Radio Shack and it works fine on 6 volts. Just thought someone might like to know.
May or may not work as the latching voltage is right around 6V. A similar 6V relay is:

Durakool DG85B-8011-96-1006-M1
TE Connectivity / Potter & Brumfield 1432873-1
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Old 09-02-2014, 08:04 PM   #18
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

Jerry
Wonder if this would work.
Bosch 0332204001 6 Volt relay
Pin 87A low beam N/C
Pin 87 High beam N/O
Pin 30 Headlight switch
Pin 85 Bat positive
Pin 86 Dimmer switch either side, other side open.
Bruce
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Old 09-02-2014, 09:44 PM   #19
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

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Originally Posted by cmbrucew View Post
Jerry
Wonder if this would work.
Bosch 0332204001 6 Volt relay
Pin 87A low beam N/C
Pin 87 High beam N/O
Pin 30 Headlight switch
Pin 85 Bat positive
Pin 86 Dimmer switch either side, other side open.
Bruce
Just for the heck of it I looked at this. I would not even consider it, but physically think it could be done. (this has not been well thought out, so not really sure it would work without some additional effort).
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Old 12-20-2011, 09:50 AM   #20
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Default Re: 6 volt relays

Volkswagon used 6 volt until the early 60's. You may be able to get a Bosdch one for a volkswagon. Marv
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