Modified Electric

[48mirage]

Bought a '49 coronet. I am working on the mechanical and electrical portions. I have an idea for modifying the electrics to keep the 6 volt positive ground functions and gain the advantages of 12volts spinning the starter and adding 12 volt accessories like a cd player.

It involves installing a 12 volt positive ground alternator and setting up 2 6 volt batteries in series. I run the original 6 volt system from the negative post of the battery connected to ground. I hook up the negative post of the other battery to the starter solenoid. I can also use this post as my connection to the 12 volt accessories. I use the positive ground of the car as the power source for the cd player and use a switch to open the line to the negative post of the ground. Speakers have dedicated signal and ground wires back to cd player (no common grounds).

I know this may seem like the long way around to do what I want but my reputation is to always do it a little differently. I am looking to see if there is any reason this won't work. I have a drawing of what I am proposing but couldn't figure out how to post it in any size that was readable but can email it if anybody has any questions.

Thanks,

Jim

[Merle Coggins]

I understand what you're planning, Jim. However you may experience problems with the setup. This comes from my many year of experience with construction equipment with 24 volt systems, using two 12 volt batteries in series as you plan with your 6 volts. I've seen many people connect 12 volt accessories (mostly stereos) to one battery, like you are planning, instead of using a voltage convertor. This causes charging problems with the batteries. However, the battery that commonly fails is the one not connected to the accessory. The reason for this, as I had it explained to me, is that the added, unequal, draw on one battery causes the alternator to overcharge the other battery, greatly reducing it's life.

If you want to use 12 volt accessories and maintain your 6 volt system, I would reccomend using a voltage convertor such as the ones from these people. http://www.pressenter.com/~cmeyer/ This wouldn't work if you want to use a 12 volt starting system, but would be enough to run the average stereo or cell phone.

Merle

By the way... Sharp looking car.

[Normspeed]

Cool scallops. Looks like the car was dropped by using smaller wheels, maybe13:"?

I use a Meyers 12 volt converter and I'm completely satisfied with it.

West Marine sells a voltage combiner for use with 2 12 volt batts, I have one in my boat and it works great. I wonder if it might work with a pair of 6 volts. Might be worth a try. I think mine is a BC 50...?

No Pain, no gain.

[48mirage]

Merle,

Looking at the Meyer converter, is he actually kicking up the positive side to @19.5 volts then using the vehicle + 6 volt ground to get a difference of 13.5 volts?

[48mirage]

Normspeed,

Actually the scallops are an optical illusion all done with air brush. It even looks that way in life untill you get up close. Auto Artistry in Russell KS did the body work.

The car has not been lowered the Lake pipes make it look like it sits lower. The wheels are 15" the tires are a little undersized P205 instead of the P225 that would have been equivalent to the original size. Since this photo was taken I have added air shocks to the rear and I feel that I need to stiffen up the front end some.

Auto Artistry did do a good job on the paint inside. The color is actually an orange metallic with a flattening agent used to take the gloss out. The interior was painted a marbleized black. There are some 60's era graphics on back, a "Big Daddy" Rat Fink, a Von Dutch Flying Eyeball and a picture of a carhop in hot pants and a tube top.

There are still a lot of little projects that need to be completed on this car but that is the kind of tinkering I love.

[Merle Coggins]

Merle,

Looking at the Meyer converter, is he actually kicking up the positive side to @19.5 volts then using the vehicle + 6 volt ground to get a difference of 13.5 volts?

I don't believe so. It's probably just a small step-up transformer to obtain 13.5 volts output. I don't have one. I saved the link from a previous thread (I think the info came from Norm, A.K.A. Normspeed) because I liked the idea and am hoping to use one to power a radio for my truck when I get that far with the project.

If you have questions with their product you should send them an email or give them a call. They're Wisconsin folk, so I'm sure they're good people

Merle

[BobT-47P15]

Like your car, Jim. You don't see very many Dodge coupes around here, mostly fourdoors. I'm no electrical expert, but regarding the 12 volts for starting, I will just repeat what several others have said in the past....no real need for 12 if the original 6V system is in good condition. Good wiring, O or 00 gauge battery cables, generator and regulator working properly, etc. I think the 12 volt power inverter is most simple to run accessories like stereo. I can see you have been giving it a lot of thought however. There are also some 6volt alternators out there. Bob