Running a 6V DC device on 12V system?

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Re: Running a 6V DC device on 12V system?

Postby H.A. » Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:10 pm

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Last edited by H.A. on Wed Dec 16, 2015 8:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Running a 6V DC device on 12V system?

Postby eamarquardt » Mon Sep 17, 2012 4:10 pm

H.A. wrote:Happily this is not done much now days as its a poor electrical practice. It can shorten the life of the battery considerably.
It will work,,, But at a price to pay.
(Granted its sort of hard now days to intercept with a screw the bussbar within our modern plastic sealed batteries.)

But potentially some Teardrop or RV guy might decide to use 2 six volt batteries in series for their 12 volt system and tap out 6v from that.

The Military truck guys are often doing this center-tap scheme into their 24v system to hook-up a 12v CB radio or whatever,
Only to find later they buggered one or both batteries.


Yup.
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Re: Running a 6V DC device on 12V system?

Postby Richard A. » Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:09 pm

Radio Shack used to sell (they may still do .. I haven't checked) an adaptor that plugs into a cigarette lighter outlet .. and can be switched from 12 vdc in steps down to maybe 3 vdc (don't remember exactly) ... some models even came with an assortment of tips. Bring your AC cord to the store when you go looking so you can match the tip.

Also look on the AC adaptor to see how much current it provides (by the same token you will learn about how much current the device needs .. since it will be that much or less) .. You need the voltage reducer to be able to handle that much current (it will say how much it can handle)
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Re: Running a 6V DC device on 12V system?

Postby Skruddgemire » Thu Sep 27, 2012 6:50 am

GerryS wrote:A step down transformer might make more sense. For 110 the sell those about everywhere, for 12v radio shaft used to. I'm sure they still do. Although lately that place has turned into a phone shop :(


Tell me about it.

Their slogan should be "Radio Shack. You have questions? We have batteries."
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Re: Running a 6V DC device on 12V system?

Postby emiller » Fri Sep 28, 2012 11:50 am

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Re: Running a 6V DC device on 12V system?

Postby Gladtobehere » Fri Sep 28, 2012 2:30 pm

Consider an electronic (rather than mechanical) white noise machine that uses AA batteries. Then you don't have any wires hanging around. They also can be plugged in.

Something like:
http://www.fabove.ca/p/marpac_sound_conditioner/Marpac-Sound-Conditioner-600A.html

Just a thought.
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Re: Running a 6V DC device on 12V system?

Postby zipz71 » Sat Sep 29, 2012 4:31 pm

Something like this might do the job.

http://www.powerstream.com/dc6.htm

Or if you know someone who is handy with wiring and soldering you can build one using a LM7806 or UA7806 regulator.
Radio Shack carries the subsitute the NTE962.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... =13133370#

Which ever you choose make sure the polarity is the same as the original.
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