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Mrfun2fly
Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2015
Posts: 548
Location: New Mexico
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 Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:32 pm Post subject: 12 Volt Conversion wiring?? |
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I'm thinking about rewiring my ghia myself. Currently it has a 6 volt system so gonna do the deed and make it 12 volt.
Are the wires different? or can I use the same thikness wires for 12 volt as used for 6 volt??
Thank you,
Lee |
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3916
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: 12 Volt Conversion wiring?? |
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Yes, you can use the same thickness wires for 6volts when you go to 12volts. In fact the wires for 12 volts are thinner than 6 volts, so you are better off with the thicker 6v stuff. .
Are you fully across the elements that need to be changed out ? If not , just ask and one of the resident auto electric experts will be happy to help out.
Nicholas
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'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
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Mrfun2fly
Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2015
Posts: 548
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: 12 Volt Conversion wiring?? |
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| sputnick60 wrote: |
Are you fully across the elements that need to be changed out ? If not , just ask and one of the resident auto electric experts will be happy to help out.
Nicholas |
I barely pulled out the current wires today so haven't even scratched the surface lol...
I'm wondering about what relays to get, I look up flasher relay and only get relays for a 68 and up so not sure what is the correct relays.
Thanks bud!!! |
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bnam
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 2936
Location: El Dorado Hills CA/ Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:59 am Post subject: Re: 12 Volt Conversion wiring?? |
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| Mrfun2fly wrote: |
I'm thinking about rewiring my ghia myself. Currently it has a 6 volt system so gonna do the deed and make it 12 volt.
Are the wires different? or can I use the same thikness wires for 12 volt as used for 6 volt??
Thank you,
Lee |
I just converted my 6V to 12V (but did buy a new loom as old loom was beyond hope). A standard 3 pin flasher worked -- but, the indicator in the speedo has to Y'd into the switch circuit. I do have a WW flasher that I've not installed yet.
I've also converted to alternator.
Byas
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1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
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1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL |
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 3916
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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sjbartnik
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011
Posts: 5998
Location: Brooklyn
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| Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 8:21 am Post subject: Re: 12 Volt Conversion wiring?? |
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Wires are sized to safely handle the current they are expected to carry. The voltage isn't so important.
Remember the power law equation, P = I x V where P = power in watts, I = current in amps, and V = voltage.
When the power (wattage) of an electrical device is known, then you can re-work the formula to calculate roughtly how much current the device will draw.
Let's take a standard brake light bulb for example, which is usually 21 watts (for both 6v and 12v bulbs).
21 = I x 6, so to solve for I you make it I = 21/6, I = 3.5A.
In a 12v system it's 21/12 = 1.75A.
Now you understand that for the same power, if the voltage is doubled, the current is halved.
So all the wires in the 6v car are designed to carry the higher currents of the 6v electrical devices. When you convert to 12v you will be halving the current that runs through those wires, so they will be under less strain than they were in the 6v system.
Long way of saying "yes you can use the same wires" 
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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
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