12 volt questions and misc

rdmace1956

Member
As I go thru my 41 Mercury. I wanted to see what I can get by with on 12 volt without damage.

Will the big dual horns be OK or should I leave them disconnected/ drop resistor, etc ?

There is a rheostat in box for the heater fan, will that do the job as loang as I keep it on the low side?

Running modern single wire alternator now but looks like parts for two generators in the spares pile. Is it possible for a good shop to convert them to a 12 volt? I have always had good results from a small shop nearby.

These are probably common questions but I have not completely figured out searching old threads reliably on this forum.

For Model T and A I have a lot of resource pictures, etc. Never found so much for the 41 in the litertaure from the old shop. I will have to try and find something to show me how the wiring was suppoed to route, what covers, conduits are missing, battery hold downs, all that.
 
You can use the 6 volt starter Mine lasted 8 years before I had to replace it. Go on U-Tube there are a few posts about making the conversion.
 
Any good electric shop can convert your generator new fields are available.
Horns might survive on 12v if you use them for only a short time...better put a dropping resistor in there.
Resistors aren´t that expensive so why not use them for the heater to while at it...
Instruments need a regulator to work well...buy a readymade one or use a LM7807.
And the regulators gives way less power then a resistor so they don´t like feeding a heaterfan..
 
I have made up 12v generators 1956 &up using (12v) generator body, armature and rear plate with early front plate. This puts a bearing at armature rear. Use the early pulley. Spacing for the front bearing was kinda tricky on one of the ones that I did. Cut off the ear on the rear plate to match the round end of the generator.

Two of these have worked, one combination of parts did not.

I have found a number of 12 generators at swaps for $5, making this real cheap.

Karl
 
My '47 has its 3-door OE heater and the original 4-speed electric switch on its fan .... 2 speeds (low, high) for blowing outward, and 2 reverse speeds that blow heated air up through the defroster ducts.

The car was converted to 12v and one of the commonly available wire-wound ceramic body resistors installed to reduce the 12v supply for the original 6v motor. Those resistors get hot so they should be mounted on a (home made) aluminum angle to stay clear of surrounding combustible surfaces.
 
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