The Ford Barn

john greco · 11-05-2018, 08:23 AM

What do you have to do to convert to 12v as far as getting fuel , oil, amp , temp gages to work ? Thanks

TJ · 11-05-2018, 08:49 AM

First why do you want to convert? Second what year car are you wanting to convert? A good 6 volt system with proper grounding, the correct size battery cables, a good charging system , and a good battery will work just as good as a 12 volt system.

JSeery · 11-05-2018, 08:53 AM

Need to add a voltage reducer to the power wire(s) going to the gauges. The electrical path is from the power input to the gauges to the senders, the senders provide the path to ground. Ford used a voltage reducer when they switched to 12v, believe the same basic arrangement was used into the 80s. You can add one voltage reducer that feeds all of the gauges or individual reducers for each gauge. There have been a lot of past threads on 6v to 12v conversions, here are a couple:

https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthrea...oltage+reducer

https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthrea...oltage+reducer

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51 MERC-CT · 11-05-2018, 09:13 AM

Yes, indeed, a single Ford instrument cluster voltage reducer is all you need.
This is similar to what I am using with the only variation being in the way they mount depending on the original application.

JSeery · 11-05-2018, 09:43 AM

That is similar to the 1966 Mustang Voltage Reducer if you need a model year. This is interesting:

19Fordy · 11-05-2018, 10:31 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

John, When I converted to 12V I used a Constant Voltage Reducer from Ron Francis that allowed me to feed 6V to the gauges. Do a search and find tons of info. Flat Ernie has provided oodles of top notch tech info too. Just type "Converting to 12 volts" into the Search Box and lots of good info. pops up, like this:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...olt+conversion

Here's some Ammeter info.
https://www.lectriclimited.com/legac...conversion.htm

fordor41 · 11-05-2018, 11:14 PM

I used a Ron Francis VR-1 voltage reducer to operate the gauges on my '41 but I had changed my gauges to mid '70's Ford.

19Fordy · 11-06-2018, 03:25 PM

Mine's a VR-1 also.
Here's Flat Ernie's input. He recommends CVR for accuracy.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...oltage+reducer

11-05-2018, 08:23 AM	#1
john greco Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: tx Posts: 250	Converting to 12 v What do you have to do to convert to 12v as far as getting fuel , oil, amp , temp gages to work ? Thanks

11-05-2018, 08:49 AM	#2
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,037	Re: Converting to 12 v First why do you want to convert? Second what year car are you wanting to convert? A good 6 volt system with proper grounding, the correct size battery cables, a good charging system , and a good battery will work just as good as a 12 volt system.

11-05-2018, 08:53 AM	#3
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Converting to 12 v Need to add a voltage reducer to the power wire(s) going to the gauges. The electrical path is from the power input to the gauges to the senders, the senders provide the path to ground. Ford used a voltage reducer when they switched to 12v, believe the same basic arrangement was used into the 80s. You can add one voltage reducer that feeds all of the gauges or individual reducers for each gauge. There have been a lot of past threads on 6v to 12v conversions, here are a couple: https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthrea...oltage+reducer https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthrea...oltage+reducer --- Last edited by JSeery; 11-05-2018 at 09:31 AM.

11-05-2018, 10:31 AM	#6
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,943	Re: Converting to 12 v Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) John, When I converted to 12V I used a Constant Voltage Reducer from Ron Francis that allowed me to feed 6V to the gauges. Do a search and find tons of info. Flat Ernie has provided oodles of top notch tech info too. Just type "Converting to 12 volts" into the Search Box and lots of good info. pops up, like this: https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...olt+conversion Here's some Ammeter info. https://www.lectriclimited.com/legac...conversion.htm Last edited by 19Fordy; 11-06-2018 at 03:19 PM.

11-05-2018, 11:14 PM	#7
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,517	Re: Converting to 12 v I used a Ron Francis VR-1 voltage reducer to operate the gauges on my '41 but I had changed my gauges to mid '70's Ford.

11-06-2018, 03:25 PM	#8
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,943	Re: Converting to 12 v Mine's a VR-1 also. Here's Flat Ernie's input. He recommends CVR for accuracy. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...oltage+reducer Last edited by 19Fordy; 11-06-2018 at 03:36 PM.