6 volt car, 12 volt trailer????????

[Model_A Bill]

Hi all:

I bet your getting sick of all my questions!!! Don't worry. I have a LOT more.

I plan on building my TD to pull behind my 1930 Model A. It has a 6 volt system and I plan to keep it that way.

I also would like the option to pull the TD behind my modern car.

With that being said, do I:

Wire the trailer lights and accessories at 6 volt ?

Wire the trailer for 12 volt and use a transformer/converter on the TD to step the Model A from 6 to 12 ?

Is there a converter to do this?

Is there another way to accomplish this?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank You

[SteveH]

Bill,

I haven't done what you are doing, but if I were, I'd wire the TD with 12 volts, install a battery and charger to handle the trailer power, install 6 volt tail and running lights on the trailer, and build an adapter (6 volt dropping resistors) for use with the 12 volt tow vehicle. To me, that would be the simplest, and easiest way to get everything you need without going to extreems, but it is just my opinion.

[Dale M.]

For towing lights it will be easier to wire trailer for 6 volts and use voltage drop devices in 12 volt system (tow vehicle) to power trailer lights than to develop a system up double the voltage found in you your Model "A" (6 volts) to power 12 volt trailer lamps...

I would keep the trailer internal systems at 12 volts with an independent self contained system.

Dale

[Chuck Craven]

I have done this before! What I did was to put two bulbs in each taillight. One is 6v circuit and one 12v circuit. Just use a different type of plug on the 6v circuit so you can’t plug it in the 12v car. Most 12v taillights have enough room for another socket and bulb.
If you have the old type of taillights it is a little harder to do but it can be shoehorned in.

Chuck

[swizz]

If the lights are easy enough to service, why not change the bulbs as & when?

As already mentioned, the biggest gripe with using your Model A will be if you want to charge a battery fitted to the Tear

You may well shoot me for this but you could always 'rod the A - a 12v alternator should be easy to find for a Cleveland V8

[Micro469]

If the lights are easy enough to service, why not change the bulbs as & when?As already mentioned, the biggest gripe with using your Model A will be if you want to charge a battery fitted to the Tear

You may well shoot me for this but you could always 'rod the A - a 12v alternator should be easy to find for a Cleveland V8

Probably because 6 and 12 volt use differant sockets.....

[swizz]

Are you sure? I've heard of people converting early Veedubs over here from 6 volt to 12 volt - where the bulbs have been interchangable

[Chuck Craven]

Well if your going to change bulbs every time you use the trailer with a different vehicle why not do it just once and dual wire it for both 6 and 12 volts. If I remember Model A’s had turn signals as an option! Standard turn signals was your arm dangling out of the window!

Chuck

[Phil & Ningning]

Something you might consider if your trailer has a 12 volt battery is to mount a powered taillight convertor in the trailer and power it from the trailer battery. The 6 volt signal should be enough to turn on the transistors in the unit. The same connector would be used for both vehicles and it would be plug & go for both cars.

I could be wrong about this. Some testing might be in order before commiting to it, but I would certainly try it.

Phil

[Model_A Bill]

Thank you Phil. That is what I am looking for. Can you give me an idea (if you know) as to what kind of converter that is or where I can get it??

[48Rob]

I like Dales idea best,

Use 6 volt bulbs in the trailer lamps with a voltage drop device in line so the lamps can be used with an old car, or modern one.

The charging of the trailers battery can be solved by running a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries in series.
The model A can charge with 6 volts, and the modern car can charge with 12 (switched of course).

6 volt bulbs don't require a special socket in general.
There are some older 6 volt sockets that you'd be hard pressed to find a 12 volt bulb for...but a modern tail light fixture will accept a 12 or 6 volt bulb.

Rob

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/1948rob/Indiana/pose5.jpg?t=1180049038">

[Micro469]

I like Dales idea best,

Use 6 volt bulbs in the trailer lamps with a voltage drop device in line so the lamps can be used with an old car, or modern one.

The charging of the trailers battery can be solved by running a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries in series.
The model A can charge with 6 volts, and the modern car can charge with 12 (switched of course).

6 volt bulbs don't require a special socket in general.
There are some older 6 volt sockets that you'd be hard pressed to find a 12 volt bulb for...but a modern tail light fixture will accept a 12 or 6 volt bulb.

Rob

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/1948rob/Indiana/pose5.jpg?t=1180049038">

Rob, hate to disagree with you , But I found that a six volt bulb has the pins level with each other and 12 volt bulbs are offset. In my experience anyway.....

[Micro469]

O.K.,,, me bad. You can buy 6 volt with staggered pins. My problem was that I had straight 6 volt sockets and wanted to convert to 12 volt, and couldn't find straight pin 12 volt bulbs. Same type of problem... totally different solution....

[s4son]

Will LED lights work with eaither 6 or 12 volts?

Scott F.

[SteveH]

Scott,

Almost all LEDs are 1.5-1.65 volts, so when they are used on a higher voltage, need a dropping resistor. If you have a resistor in line for 12 volt use, they would not light up on 6 volts. If you have a resistor in line for 6 volts use, they would burn up on 12 volts.

Basically the same problem as bulbs.