I know this has been asked before, but I couldn't find out exactly what I want to know.
I am now the proud owner of a '60 model bug, which is totally stock. The electrical system is in good condition. I would like to keep it as stock as possible, but I NEED to install a new stereo. Nothing crazy just a CD player and some small speakers.
Now, can I get a converter from 6v to 12v to run the headset?
Grey 57 ·
Pat, forget about 6 to 12 v inverters, they will not make enough grunt to run a CD player properly. Had one in a previous oval and it was next to useless.
I'd go the 12volt conversion. If you have a 40hp 1200 its easily done and easily changed back at a later stage.
Bit harder with a 36hp 1200 but not impossible.
Better lights, but mostly better sounds. No bodies gonna pump the subbies with 6volts!!!
Cheers
Dean :bounce:bounce
Pat ·
But then can I still use my semaphores?
I think it's a 36hp 1200 as the generator stand is part of the block.
68AutoBug ·
at least they are in New South Wales.... and Firstly, Yes they can be made to work on 12v and the light in them can even be made to blink..... a bit harder....
It ALL depends on the CD player Pat and how loud You want to Play it..... If You are NOT having any problems with the 6v system... stick with it.... I'll look at some prices for 6 to 12 Volt inverters and let You know whatever I can find out.... as there are Many different types with different current ratings... if You want a Very LOUD THUMP THUMP CD Music System..... You will have to go to 12 volts.
If You are like Me .... and love a bit of Country Music.... Lee😀
68AutoBug ·
Well I just reread your reply Pat, and I don't think there will be a problem with Your CD player and small speakers... and low power... and NO THUMP THUMP... 😀 I'll let You know what I can find out..
Pat ·
The CD player in my last car drew 15amps, I'll be looking at something similar.
Don't know about the country music......
I just don't want to be subjected to all those angry men on AM anymore.
Flintstones ·
68Autobug,
Why are they illegal?
This is the first that I've heard, they are standard fitment from the factory.
Can you advise why?
Cheers
68AutoBug ·
Well I have known that they have been illegal for probably 20 years or more.... and just a few months ago.... I was at a Garage where a Car with Semaphores had just been passed for Registration....and NO it wasn't a VW but some pommie car, and as the elderly woman pulled out from the kerb.... out when the semaphores or Trafficators as they were known in Australia...... and the Mechanic said." I told Her not to use them and that they are illegal" Most Cars with them have been changed over to Blinkers-Indicators many years ago.... with many Morris Minors using 1962-67 VW Tail lamps with blinkers as they bolt neatly onto their mudguards.... I believe All trucks have to have them regardless of age,,,, Have You seen the Hella accessory amber lamps that actually fit into the TRafficator-semaphore hole.... Very neat... Very scarce these days... I used to have a pair... somewhere....
68AutoBug ·
Yes they were factory fitted and they Were Legal at the time.....[NOT in THE USA] but time gets on... 1960-1970-1980-1990-2000-2002 .. I'm pretty sure they went out of favour, when Hand signals were also banned.... funny.... I did see an Elderly Gentleman give a Hand signal a week ago.... Maybe He lives out of town, and only comes to town every 40 years !!!😀😀😀 At least ALL VW Beetles can be registered.... NOT like the original Morris Minors.... their headlamps are too low to be registered.... the lights being either side of the grill.... later models had them in the Guards... a bit of useless info there.... Apologies..🙂
[Edited on 17-12-2002 by 68AutoBug]
68AutoBug ·
I got a bit carried away there... I will go & look up 6v to 12v inverters for Your CD player... and 15 Amps is a bit of NOISE..... small Speakers.... !!! ... what about headphones??
tape player?
Portable CD player?
Lee😀
Pat ·
15amps wasn't the constant draw it's just what the inline fuse was rated at. I'm only planning to install a head unit and a set of 6x9s or similar.
Or maybe I should get a PS2 and a DVD player😀
Or I could be the first to have GPS in an old beetle😀
vw54 ·
Lee ???
Sorry Pat.... Semaphores are illegal....in N.S.W. at least they are in New South Wales....
Who told you that load of CRap ???
My 56 fitted with semiphores. passes a pink slip every year not a problem.
Pat ·
I've never heard of that either. If it applied to the ADRs when it was released then it is legal. My car passed a RWC in April, as it is with just semaphores and no other indicators.
68AutoBug ·
You must have slack Mechanics wherever You are..... Even the flash rate of indicator blinkers has to be Correct.... I'll find out More about them... seeing So many people disbelieve Me...
I used to get My cars passed over the past 20 years without the mechanics even looking at the Car as they knew how fussy I was with My cars.... and everything was OK anyway..... and a few years ago.... I was a bit upset as a Mechanic put Me down for a blown tail lamp bulb... because He couldn't find anything wrong with My 10 year old Car...
So.... You can take what most mechanics do or say with a grain of salt..... unless they are Young and really know all the regs.... and do their Job Properly......
I have seen a car knocked back because the rear window wiper - WASHER didn't have any water in it....
68AutoBug ·
and its NOT illegal to have them.... JUST ILLEGAL to Use them.... in NSW....
Same as Hand Signals....
Don't go sticking Your Arm out of the window....
68AutoBug ·
Pat,
If You have a 1200 engine etc and a 6 volt system..... Firstly Your Generator will only be putting out around 30 amps- by memory..... maybe less on an older model... Do You have a large 6 volt battery... in Your Car?
Lee
splitbusaustralia ·
I think its one of those grey interpretative areas. While some ADRS depend on year of manufacture (don't HAVE to have seatbelts in pre 61 vehicles for example) others are retrospective and require mods. There is a requirement for ALL vehicles (regardless of year) to have a visible flashing amber indicator signal. I think its up to the tester/engineer to decide whether a (flashing) semaphore fulfills this requirement.
The US combined red brake/indicators are illegal here. It also why you see many vintage vehicles with no indicators from the hand signal era with harley indicators front and back (note I'm talking about for normal full road registration here)
RobK
Pat ·
Lee- I'm not sure, I'll have a closer look.
Rob- I am getting a roadworthy test done tonight, so it'll be interesting to see if my non flashing semaphores pass.
blk56 ·
I don`t know who told you that .About blinkers .
My 1928 Indian was on full rego last year and it has no blinkers or stop light and it was passed by the RTA inspetors with out a problem
Pat ·
Passed with flying colours!!
68AutoBug ·
Well Pat,
I have looked in a few Catalogs... and I can't find anyone who sells 6v Volt to 12 volt Inverters at all... A fellow told Me once that He fitted a normal.. 12 volt AM-FM Radio to a 6 Volt Kombi.... and all He did was put a 6Volt Latern Battery in series with the normal 6v supply to the AM/FM Radio and when He sold it 2 years later.... the battery was still there and still working.... I would try that first Pat... the cheapest alternative..... AM & FM !!! radio draws very little current....
I'll keep looking.... Lee
Pat ·
OK thanks Lee.
So it looks like a 12v conversion. How do I go about this with a 36hp 1200? I don't want to have to look for a porsche generator.
Also who would I see about getting the semaphores converted? Is there a small circuit that can step-down the voltage?
Grey 57 ·
Hey Pat, why not just fit a 12 v battery to run the CD player. You could fit it under the back seat on the opposite side to the 6V one. A full battery would run a CD player for a while. Take it out and charge it when flat or use an 6 to 12 inverter to top it up on the go.
As I said the 12V converstion is a bit more difficult with the 36HP.
vw54 ·
Pat
yeah i agree with Dean fit a 12V battery under the seat on the other side.
I had an Inverter on my 6V car a few years ago and it was powering a 25W Sony radio casette but not a CD.
Last time i saw a 6V size 12V Porsche generator for sale they wanted something like $500.00 S/H.
Of course you know what i told them they could do with the Jenny.:puke :repuke
Pat ·
I think the extra battery sounds like a good Idea, I could also get one of those solar trickle chargers to top it up.
I've heard that you can have the 6v gen rebuilt to put out 12v, does anyone still do this?
Oh by the way thanks for all of your advice, it's been very helpful.:thumb
vw54 ·
Yes they used to re wire the field coils, to convert the 6 to 12V Generators.
I had one on my Kombi in 1977, it used to work alright, but i have seen anyone do this since then.
68AutoBug ·
Well, the problem is.... No inverters for 6 volt up to 12 volts DC.... as Who uses 6 volts anymore.. [sorry Pat]..
I wired My Son's 56 oval about 15 years ago Pat and the semaphores can be used on 12v... tested etc.. but I disconnected them & added Blinkers.. I'll see what I can find out.... I know I found it very difficult to obtain the small 12 volt globes to replace the 6volt ones... but I eventually found some-- I have a couple somewhere, If You do go ahead with the 12v conversion let Me know & I'll send You the Bulbs.... Lee
PS. My Son has a hot 1835cc Dual Port engine and alternator in His 1956 oval.
68AutoBug ·
Pat, I just remembered, I once saw a 6v Beetle with a 12 volt standard non VW Alternator ALSO perched up in the air. Can't remember which side of the carby it was on... Only One Vee Belt was used, and the alternator was also used to adjust the belt... Looked a terrible setup.... The Alternator would have to be on the LHS for the belt to drive the generator + fan.. Please Don't have any nightmares about this setup Pat.... 😀
vw54 ·
Pat
If you convert the semiphores to 12V, then make the globes flash as this will stop the extra heat melting the yellow lens.
geodon ·
I converted a 36HP to 12v using a Porsche gen also only to get a working radio. I would opt now for a 2nd 12V battery.
One problem not mentioned above is the wipers. As 12V wiper motors are non-existent(?), I put a resistor in. Fine until its been running for a while then with time the wipers go faster & faster go to the point where it takes 2-3 shots at switching off because the momentum overides the stop cam!
Re semaphores- my '60 SC has both! I've got small motorcycle blinkers on the bumper bars as well.
Pat ·
OK I'm pretty much decided on this, I'll go with the second battery.
One last question (I promise) Can you jump start a 6v car from a 12v car?
68AutoBug ·
The wipers will go faster because of the resistor.... and the current used by the wiper motor..... it will work with light loads....:tree
Pat,
You can jump start a 6volt starter motor with a 12 volt battery.... but You will blow the dash lamps & probably the coil.... Oh then there is the generator+ regulator....
Sorry.... BUT... if You can find a 12 volt battery with Visible connections between the cells... You can tap into 8 Volts... and You would be able to start Your engine with NO worries Pat...
:tree
68AutoBug ·
Back in the 60's & 70's Pat, a fellow in Newcastle NSW 320kms N of Sydney, used to Make 8 volt Batteries for VWs.
My Father bought one... and boy did it make a difference.... as there is a fair bit of Voltage drop with only 6 volts of pressure in the car circuits, the extra 2 volts boosted it up, so there was actually at least 6 volts everywhere instead of 5 Volts depending on how good the earthing is, which does deteriate with time...... You should replace the earth screws with stainless steel self tapping screws [ available from Big W,] use a slightly larger size if possible..and clean the electrical terminals with a small file or even a nail file, until they are as new...
this DOES make a BIG difference... and don't forget where the earth strap from the battery bolts onto the body.....
I always clean the opposite side of the battery earth strap and place a Nut on a longer bolt.... not forgetting the earth strap on the gearbox..... All connections should be like NEW... as they were once.
Lee An electrical contact expert😀
:rudolf:party:tree
68AutoBug ·
I hope this one works... but NOT over 500kb sorry meant 50kbs....😀😀
Well here it goes....
Wish me well..
Lee:rudolf
68AutoBug ·
OK... Can someone tell ME the size of this pic in kB.... [Not MB] I hope...
Lee....:rudolf
Grey 57 ·
Lee
It's 25kb. If you need to check once its posted. Put your curser over the pic, right click the mouse and choose properties on the pop up menu.
Oasis ·
Grey 57 wrote:Hey Pat, why not just fit a 12 v battery to run the CD player. You could fit it under the back seat on the opposite side to the 6V one.
The weight of the battery would halve the speed of the car😀
modulus ·
Pat, have you thought about a 6V to 12V inverter to power the CD?