03-23-2017, 10:15 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Glens Falls NY
Posts: 1,267
|
Re: 12v Gauges
The frequently used Runtz reducers, one each of three gauges, are $3 each at this site:
http://autorewire.ecrater.com/c/1168...ltage-reducers |
03-23-2017, 11:13 PM | #22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Lynden, WA
Posts: 1,564
|
Re: 12v Gauges
Interesting, must be 6 volt zener diodes.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
03-24-2017, 09:00 AM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,489
|
Re: 12v Gauges
I've been around dropping and regulating systems for a long time and all of them generate heat. Most are insulated from making contact with flammables. The flea-pay stuff doesn't look like it has any way to get rid of the heat plus it has a two wire input and a two wire output. How are you supposed to insulate your load from ground?
I would be skeptical about the longevity of those products and whether they are safe to use or not. You certainly don't want your car to catch fire due to a poorly made product. -Caveat Emptor- |
03-24-2017, 09:21 AM | #24 |
BANNED
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Utica, Ohio
Posts: 522
|
Re: 12v Gauges
rotorwrench,
I'm with you on the "flea-pay" stuff. I don't understand why everybody wants to complicate things. The NAPA #IR1 is what Ford did when they went to 12v. Works fine and lasts a long time and safe too. This is what I have on the two old Fords I have that are now 12v. Also, my '88 Ranger has this same unit to run the gauges! |
03-24-2017, 09:43 AM | #25 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Posts: 902
|
Re: 12v Gauges
From Ron Francis Wiring: VR1 is a clean easy setup for 12V to 6V conversion. No resistors to heat up. Connect to 12V, clean consistent 6V out the other end will take
care of all you gauges. Next to what oil to use, the most discussed on this board. OP should take some time and search for previous posts on 12V conversions. https://www.ronfrancis.com/prodinfo.asp?number=VR-1 $60.00 https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHIR1 $72.00 from NAPA
__________________
Henry Ford designed the flathead without the aid of a computer. |
03-24-2017, 11:15 AM | #26 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Lynden, WA
Posts: 1,564
|
Re: 12v Gauges
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
|
|
03-24-2017, 11:39 AM | #27 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: elmira,ny
Posts: 1,526
|
Re: 12v Gauges
I used gauges from 70-80's ford trucks. they are exactly like , in appearance, to 40's stock movements. Also got matching senders. Used a Ron Francis VR-1 voltage reducer.
Newer gauge movements will fit exactly into the stock housings. Reassemble with the stock faces and no one will know the difference. May not match stock readings marked on the glass but once I got used to where they were reading, no problem. |
03-24-2017, 12:22 PM | #28 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Lynden, WA
Posts: 1,564
|
Re: 12v Gauges
I found a used Mustang ('66) regulator for $20, so I'll go that route. At least it will look at home. 8^)
|
03-24-2017, 01:28 PM | #29 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Fort Myers, Florida
Posts: 20
|
Re: 12v Gauges
I converted the gauges in my 47 ford coupe to 12 volt. Rodtechhrp.com provided a custom round hole plate that looks just like the original but with round holes for the gauges. I went with vdo Cockpit Royale gauges and they fit perfect and looks great.you will need to file the 90 degree corners of the dash hole just enough so they don't show through the gauge plate, but it was easy to do.
Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk |
03-25-2017, 03:25 PM | #30 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Lynden, WA
Posts: 1,564
|
Re: 12v Gauges
Dug these out of the rat's nest. Some heavy ceramic resistors measuring 3.5 ohms each. I assume they were to supply gauge voltage.
|
03-25-2017, 06:14 PM | #31 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,489
|
Re: 12v Gauges
The big resistors are usually for fan motors or accessories with higher amp loading. They have high in-rush current and can damage intricate instruments in some cases. The old King Seeley type systems are pretty heavy duty but no point taking a risk.
|
03-25-2017, 06:17 PM | #32 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Lynden, WA
Posts: 1,564
|
Re: 12v Gauges
Kind of hard to tell where there were attached...
|
03-26-2017, 02:54 PM | #33 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Guston,ky
Posts: 653
|
Re: 12v Gauges
I'm using NOS 46 gauges with a 12 Volt system. I just use a reduce I got from Drake. Its one that takes care of all the gauges. Works fine.
|
03-26-2017, 03:15 PM | #34 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Lynden, WA
Posts: 1,564
|
Re: 12v Gauges
Even though I'm getting ahead of myself here a bit, I've been playing with gauges. I plan a new thread to share what I learn. My instrument panel is really messed up, while removing all the nasty wire, I noticed that there wasn't anything holding it in so I just removed the whole thing.
|
03-31-2017, 07:57 AM | #35 | ||
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: 74FL
Posts: 323
|
Re: 12v Gauges
Quote:
Quote:
I'm a fan of the fully electronic L7806 CVR. These little gems cost less than $0.10 each and can take anything up to about 19V and always output exactly 6V. Only a CVR (constant voltage regulator) will produce a constant output of 6V. The choppers and dropping resistors will output some lower amount around 6V based on whatever input voltage it gets. So if your chopper puts out 6V when only the battery is connected at 12V, but your alternator is putting out 14V, the chopper will now put out 7V (or thereabouts). The only gauge that this matters on is the gas gauge. Even the stock systems will show one reading when going down the road at speed, but when you stop and idle and the generator cuts out and voltage drops slightly, the gauge drops too. With a CVR, this is eliminated. You can get them at any decent electronics store, order online, and even eBay sellers have them. 1 will run the three gauges most of our old cars have, but they're so cheap, I always run one for each gauge. Simple 3-wire hookup - 12V in, ground, 6V out.
__________________
Daddy always said, "If yer gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough" and I'm one tough sumbitch! T5 Tech |
||
03-31-2017, 11:55 AM | #36 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Lynden, WA
Posts: 1,564
|
Re: 12v Gauges
While looking around for info about this, ran across this informational video on using the L7806 for powering gauges. Kind of long and slow but tells you exactly how to make them.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gvQjwMrQ9k
|
04-10-2017, 09:59 PM | #37 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: 74FL
Posts: 323
|
Re: 12v Gauges
Quote:
__________________
Daddy always said, "If yer gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough" and I'm one tough sumbitch! T5 Tech |
|
04-11-2017, 03:44 AM | #38 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Gaylord, Michigan
Posts: 1,606
|
Re: 12v Gauges
TJ.......I live just down the road from Classic and went to their OpenHouse last year. Very nice stuff, but you're right.....very expensive ! They had a '40 Standard unit that included a tach in the lower area of speedometer for $750 at the time. Really kool, but too much $$
Mike |
04-11-2017, 03:50 AM | #39 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Gaylord, Michigan
Posts: 1,606
|
Re: 12v Gauges
Estout........how did you hook these up ?
|
04-11-2017, 07:16 AM | #40 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Sweden
Posts: 3,045
|
Re: 12v Gauges
What you really want for as little heat as possible is a series regulator as in 7806-8.
It just turns out enough for what you need instead of burning of the excessive like in a resistor or dropping diode (what you call runtz). Next issue with a diode is that you got 2 failuremodes...open gages just stop working...shorting out gages have a chance of burning up...so make sure it´s big enough to cope with the dissipation. Surrounding temperature is a big factor in how good any solid state dissipating heat works so dont stuff it in to tight. |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|