12-25-2014, 09:43 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: wellington new zealand
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12v 6v windows
Merry Christmas Barners !
hope someone can help ? have converted my Lincoln from 6 to 12v. am trying to find a voltage reducer for the power windows circuit Did a current draw test , applying 12v the worst window uses 32 amps and the quietest still sucks 26 amps. This seems excessive to me and I cant find a reducer that will cope. maybe someone has dealt with this problem before me .... |
12-26-2014, 05:41 AM | #2 |
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Location: Seattle
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Re: 12v 6v windows
If it is possible I would check the current draw at 6 volts. It is probably goin to be less, maybe about 12 amps. This is just a guess, I have not measured one. What ever it is 6 volts / 12 amps for example is 1/2 ohm. That is the resistor size you need to drop 12 volts to 6 volts for that motor. It will be a physically large resistor because it dissipates 6 volts X12amps or 72 watts! And it would get real hot when running the motor.
A better option is to try to find 12 volt motors. I changed my heater fan motor to 12 volt when I converted my 54. The horns worked fine at 12 volts, just loud. They say 6 volt starters work on 12 volts. Maybe your window motors will too. You would have to fuse them for high current and watch to make sure the wires do not get so hot the insulation melts. |
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12-26-2014, 11:00 AM | #3 |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
From my point of view, I think you are expecting to much from sixty year old motors.
I agree with "John" that you should look into finding 12v motors to replace the possibly worn out 6v motors.
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Bill.... 36 5 win cpe |
12-26-2014, 12:44 PM | #4 |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
Another trick to try if you are adventuresome is to make a 5 cell C size NiCad battery pack to operate the windows. 5 nicads in series is 6 volts. This C size cell is what they use in battery powered drills. One pack should work for all 4 windows if you put them up or down one at a time. You would want to use high quality batteries such as 3800mah ones. The next thing is how to charge them. I would charge them off the 12v battery continuously at a very low rate using a 1.8k ohm resistor. This would fully charge a dead battery pack in 2 weeks but should not over heat them. If you wanted a fast charge capability you could switch in a 20 ohm resistor in parallel with the 1.8k ohm resistor. This would fully charge a dead pack in 1 hour but will ruin the pack if you leave it on more than 1 hour!
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12-26-2014, 04:51 PM | #5 |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
FWIW, the seat motors in my 55 bird have been running on 12 volts for 15 years. They don't get used as offen as the windows, but they go full travel with no noticeable heat. Those old motors had good windings and a lot of iron, so if the tracks are good, low friction, you might get away with it like I do. Obviously, 12 volt motors would be ideal. Or having yours rewound.
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12-26-2014, 05:21 PM | #6 | |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
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Quote:
I once drove a very wet converted to 12v stick-shift car with a 6v starter, out of a river using just the starter and it worked for years afterward. Last edited by dmsfrr; 12-26-2014 at 09:38 PM. |
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12-26-2014, 06:15 PM | #7 |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
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12-26-2014, 06:28 PM | #8 |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
if it was mine , i would lean toward having the original motors rewound.
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12-26-2014, 09:21 PM | #9 |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
By coincidence, this came up at the aaca little bird forum today. Walt was a widely respected expert, I'd be inclined to trust this one. Might be of some help.
http://www.thunderbirdcircleoc.com/page53.html |
12-27-2014, 03:18 AM | #10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: wellington new zealand
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Re: 12v 6v windows
what a great forum !
just about to do a big road trip with car friends from another country , they also will be using my windows ! - don't want to burn out the safety relay or worse a motor and have to do trim removal etc will try to show some pics of the car white 55 capri coupe thanks for your input at this time of year |
12-27-2014, 08:01 PM | #11 |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
I knew someone who had a '54 glasstop 2-dr hardtop that he converted to 12 volts, but left the 12v motors in the windows. They just rolled up or down twice as fast as they originally did when the car had 6 volt system. After all, its not like the motor is continuous duty right. The motor only runs for a second to move the window its entire travel. Mind you, that would not work for the heater blower motor, since it might run for long periods of time.
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12-27-2014, 08:05 PM | #12 |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
The rule is: the lower the voltage is, the greater the amperage is. That is why car manufacturers were able to reduce wiring size when they went to the 12volt system. Current is half what it used to be with the 6 volt system.
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12-27-2014, 08:12 PM | #13 | |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
Quote:
Is it possible you might be reading the wrong scale on your electric meter ? If not, maybe you should check to see if windows are not "binding" in the runners. If there is physical resistance, it will increase current draw at the motor. |
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12-27-2014, 11:56 PM | #14 | |
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Re: 12v 6v windows
Quote:
I would also check for excessive resistance and good fresh ground connections. Another consideration are fusible links at power sources. This wiring is old and fragile. Fuses are fine but fusible links provide better whole body wiring protection. http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/fusible-link.shtml If you do use fusible links it is best to attach a spare link wired to the source so that if it does blow to protect your wiring you can attach the spare easily "after" you discover the problem. |
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