The Ford Barn

34pickup · 09-19-2018, 10:44 PM

Does anyone make a voltmeter for 6 volt systems? The only ones I have seen are for 12 volts and the lowest reading is about 8 volts.

petehoovie · 09-19-2018, 10:54 PM

On eBay > 6 volt Forklift Tractor Truck Car Voltmeter Volt Gauge Meter 6V Free Shipping!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-volt-Fork...NZ0POw&vxp=mtr

$36.79

34pickup · 09-20-2018, 10:53 AM

Thats too ugly to go in my car....☻

tubman · 09-20-2018, 02:43 PM

Maybe not that ugly, but for sure the wrong style; wouldn't match anything.

42guy · 09-20-2018, 05:19 PM

Best bet is swap meet. I picked mine up at one and he had 2. Guess I should have bought both.

paul2748 · 09-20-2018, 09:14 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Doesn't look ugly to me. At least thank the responder for answering your question.

34fordy · 09-20-2018, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 34pickup

thats too ugly to go in my car....☻

"pride goeth before the fall"

corvette8n · 09-21-2018, 09:41 AM

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/atm-p34431/overview/
A little pricey.

34pickup · 09-21-2018, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 34fordy

"pride goeth before the fall"

Not really pride, just my version of humor. That modern looking gauge doesn't match anything on my old car. I at least want to try to find one that looks more traditional. I found it on ebay also but kept looking.

Jack E/NJ · 09-21-2018, 10:51 AM

https://www.amazon.com/Analog-voltme...r+0-15v+toogoo

Jack E/NJ

tubman · 09-21-2018, 11:22 AM

I have looked and looked for a voltmeter that had the proper scale for a 6 volt car and would not look completely out of place with the rest of the dashboard. There seems to be no such piece unless you spend a BUNCH of money. What I ended up doing is buying one of those digital voltmeters that plugs into the cigarette light socket. I plug it in occasionally just to check things out. It saved my butt on my '67 Corvette. The alternator was charging almost 18 volts at high speeds. I changed the voltage regulator out for one that limited the charging voltage to less than 15 volts.

34pickup · 09-21-2018, 02:15 PM

Thanks for all the responses. I give up, I will just stick with my ammeter.

JSeery · 09-21-2018, 02:37 PM

There were very common in the 50s & 60s. Should be tons of them laying around. Like already mentioned, might be able to find them at swap meets.

51 MERC-CT · 09-21-2018, 05:53 PM

If you don't mind buying China stuff, there is this.------

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-0-15V-An...MAAOSwtGlZAv89

34pickup · 09-21-2018, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSeery

There were very common in the 50s & 60s. Should be tons of them laying around. Like already mentioned, might be able to find them at swap meets.

Swap meets are pretty rare around here. I try to check out every one I can. But lately, they are full of Mustang and Camaro parts, not much else.

I think the golden days of swap meets are gone.

Jack E/NJ · 09-21-2018, 09:16 PM

The face of the $5 one I posted earlier from Amazon can be easily changed and fitted behind the old ammeter cluster hole with a bit of home-made vs store bought ingenuity. A more period-correct face can be printed from an inkjet on paper and glued to the meter face. The 0-15volt meter should place the needle near center on a 6v system so it almost looks like an ammeter when the generator is putting out what it should ~7.2v with the engine running. Jack E/NJ

51 MERC-CT · 09-21-2018, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack E/NJ

The face of the $5 one I posted earlier from Amazon can be easily changed and fitted behind the old ammeter cluster hole with a bit of home-made vs store bought ingenuity. A more period-correct face can be printed from an inkjet on paper and glued to the meter face. The 0-15volt meter should place the needle near center on a 6v system so it almost looks like an ammeter when the generator is putting out what it should ~7.2v with the engine running. Jack E/NJ

The same $5 meter---

Or this----

19Fordy · 09-22-2018, 09:51 AM

Would it be difficult to convert a 12V unit to operate on 6 volts and still have accurate readings?

Maybe a resistor could be added to the circuit to reduce incoming voltage.

Jack E/NJ · 09-22-2018, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Would it be difficult to convert a 12V unit to operate on 6 volts and still have accurate readings?

Maybe a resistor could be added to the circuit to reduce incoming voltage.

Nope. This is a voltmeter that reads from 0-15v. No dropping resistor needed for this voltmeter unless the voltage is greater than 15v. Jack E/NJ

Jack E/NJ · 09-22-2018, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

The same $5 meter---

Or this----

Yep. Nice job. Looks real good to me! Jack E/NJ

09-19-2018, 10:44 PM	#1
34pickup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Huntsville Al Posts: 1,526	6 volt voltmeter Does anyone make a voltmeter for 6 volt systems? The only ones I have seen are for 12 volts and the lowest reading is about 8 volts. __________________ Matt 24:36-41

09-19-2018, 10:54 PM	#2
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,131	Re: 6 volt voltmeter On eBay > 6 volt Forklift Tractor Truck Car Voltmeter Volt Gauge Meter 6V Free Shipping! https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-volt-Fork...NZ0POw&vxp=mtr $36.79 __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

09-20-2018, 10:53 AM	#3
34pickup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Huntsville Al Posts: 1,526	Re: 6 volt voltmeter Thats too ugly to go in my car....☻ __________________ Matt 24:36-41

09-20-2018, 02:43 PM	#4
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,315	Re: 6 volt voltmeter Maybe not that ugly, but for sure the wrong style; wouldn't match anything.

09-20-2018, 05:19 PM	#5
42guy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 289	Re: 6 volt voltmeter Best bet is swap meet. I picked mine up at one and he had 2. Guess I should have bought both.

09-20-2018, 09:14 PM	#6
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: 6 volt voltmeter Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Doesn't look ugly to me. At least thank the responder for answering your question. __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

09-21-2018, 09:41 AM	#8
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 2,950	Re: 6 volt voltmeter https://www.summitracing.com/parts/atm-p34431/overview/ A little pricey.

09-21-2018, 10:51 AM	#10
Jack E/NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,173	Re: 6 volt voltmeter https://www.amazon.com/Analog-voltme...r+0-15v+toogoo Jack E/NJ

09-21-2018, 11:22 AM	#11
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,315	Re: 6 volt voltmeter I have looked and looked for a voltmeter that had the proper scale for a 6 volt car and would not look completely out of place with the rest of the dashboard. There seems to be no such piece unless you spend a BUNCH of money. What I ended up doing is buying one of those digital voltmeters that plugs into the cigarette light socket. I plug it in occasionally just to check things out. It saved my butt on my '67 Corvette. The alternator was charging almost 18 volts at high speeds. I changed the voltage regulator out for one that limited the charging voltage to less than 15 volts.

09-21-2018, 02:15 PM	#12
34pickup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Huntsville Al Posts: 1,526	Re: 6 volt voltmeter Thanks for all the responses. I give up, I will just stick with my ammeter. __________________ Matt 24:36-41

09-21-2018, 02:37 PM	#13
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 6 volt voltmeter There were very common in the 50s & 60s. Should be tons of them laying around. Like already mentioned, might be able to find them at swap meets.

09-21-2018, 09:16 PM	#16
Jack E/NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,173	Re: 6 volt voltmeter The face of the $5 one I posted earlier from Amazon can be easily changed and fitted behind the old ammeter cluster hole with a bit of home-made vs store bought ingenuity. A more period-correct face can be printed from an inkjet on paper and glued to the meter face. The 0-15volt meter should place the needle near center on a 6v system so it almost looks like an ammeter when the generator is putting out what it should ~7.2v with the engine running. Jack E/NJ

09-22-2018, 09:51 AM	#18
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,941	Re: 6 volt voltmeter Would it be difficult to convert a 12V unit to operate on 6 volts and still have accurate readings? Maybe a resistor could be added to the circuit to reduce incoming voltage.