The Ford Barn

48fordconv · 03-07-2016, 04:24 PM

I'm converting my 48 Ford to 12 volt. I found a reducer BWD VR1. It says it will handle up to 4 AMP. Is that large enough to run heater motor on high. Thanks

RalphM · 03-07-2016, 04:47 PM

You probably want to run two of those in series. I tested my heater at 6.5 amps and two ve-1's will handle 8 amps. Pretty sure it's series, not parallel , but I can check when I get home.

koates · 03-07-2016, 04:57 PM

Hi there, Its parallel to spread the load. Series would double the resistance value and slow down the heater motor to a crawl. Maybe better off with a 6 amp capacity resistor from MACS, part #32-62259-3. You should really test the current draw of your heater motor so you can work out which resistor to buy. Regards, Kevin.

51 MERC-CT · 03-07-2016, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve-Maine

I'm converting my 48 Ford to 12 volt. I found a reducer BWD VR1. It says it will handle up to 4 AMP. Is that large enough to run heater motor on high. Thanks

Been running my 6 volt heater motor on 12 volts for a number of years.
It just runs faster, the same as the 6 volt starter motor.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 03-07-2016, 06:48 PM

Hi Steve. I have a 6 volt heater in my 40 with 12 volt system, been in there over 40 years, I got a 12 to 6 volt resister I think from Napa years ago mounted under the dash, then the wire goes to an old heater switch that has knob with a bulb in it and the switch has 3 speeds. Worked fine for years. Walt

RalphM · 03-07-2016, 08:55 PM

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Just checked my directions, I was wrong, it is parallel as Koates says, series would drop it down to 2 amps.

Marvin/TN · 03-08-2016, 02:31 AM

very simple, go to a junk yard or auto parts store, Get Blower resister for a GM heater blower. It should have 3 or so coils of resisters on it. Apply 12 volts to the power side, read the output with a volt meter until you get 6 volts or close to it. Cut a hole in the bottom of your heater where the fan will blow on it to keep the resister cool. I found a tap with 7 Volts out put, used it on my 1951 F-1 for about 15 years.

48fordconv · 03-09-2016, 09:03 AM

TO RALPH M,
thanks for info. We were in North Pole, Alaska a couple of years ago. I believe that is where we went into a room that was -40 degrees with just tee shirts on. Kind of cold compared to Maine.
Steve

03-07-2016, 04:24 PM	#1
48fordconv Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, ME Posts: 132	Voltage Reducer for 48 heater I'm converting my 48 Ford to 12 volt. I found a reducer BWD VR1. It says it will handle up to 4 AMP. Is that large enough to run heater motor on high. Thanks

03-07-2016, 04:47 PM	#2
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Voltage Reducer for 48 heater You probably want to run two of those in series. I tested my heater at 6.5 amps and two ve-1's will handle 8 amps. Pretty sure it's series, not parallel , but I can check when I get home.

03-07-2016, 06:48 PM	#5
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: Voltage Reducer for 48 heater Hi Steve. I have a 6 volt heater in my 40 with 12 volt system, been in there over 40 years, I got a 12 to 6 volt resister I think from Napa years ago mounted under the dash, then the wire goes to an old heater switch that has knob with a bulb in it and the switch has 3 speeds. Worked fine for years. Walt

03-07-2016, 08:55 PM	#6
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Voltage Reducer for 48 heater Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Just checked my directions, I was wrong, it is parallel as Koates says, series would drop it down to 2 amps.

03-08-2016, 02:31 AM	#7
Marvin/TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chattanooga, TN area Posts: 832	Re: Voltage Reducer for 48 heater very simple, go to a junk yard or auto parts store, Get Blower resister for a GM heater blower. It should have 3 or so coils of resisters on it. Apply 12 volts to the power side, read the output with a volt meter until you get 6 volts or close to it. Cut a hole in the bottom of your heater where the fan will blow on it to keep the resister cool. I found a tap with 7 Volts out put, used it on my 1951 F-1 for about 15 years.

03-07-2016, 04:57 PM	#3
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,079	Re: Voltage Reducer for 48 heater Hi there, Its parallel to spread the load. Series would double the resistance value and slow down the heater motor to a crawl. Maybe better off with a 6 amp capacity resistor from MACS, part #32-62259-3. You should really test the current draw of your heater motor so you can work out which resistor to buy. Regards, Kevin.

03-09-2016, 09:03 AM	#8
48fordconv Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, ME Posts: 132	Re: Voltage Reducer for 48 heater TO RALPH M, thanks for info. We were in North Pole, Alaska a couple of years ago. I believe that is where we went into a room that was -40 degrees with just tee shirts on. Kind of cold compared to Maine. Steve