My electric bermuda bell on my 12 volt Model A blows a 20 amp fuse almost every time I ring it. I suspect that the bell is intended for 6 volts. How should I reduce the voltage to the bell? The bell contains a solenoid. Do I need to know how much amperage goes to the coil to determine what resistor to use to reduce the (momentary) voltage? The voltage is applied to create the ding and the spring on the solenoid creates the dong when the switch is released.
6 Volt Bermuda Bell on 12 Volt Car
- Thread starter DDeeD
- Start date
Synchro909
Well-known member
If you only usually blow a 20 amp fuse but not always, it is obvious to me that the solenoid draws about 20 amps It takes a resistance of 0.6 of an ohm to get that (R=V/I or 0.6=12/20) meaning that on 6 volts, the current draw will be 10 amps. (0.6= 6/10)
The soleniod consumes 60 watts of power (P=VxI) P=6X10=60 watts
12 volts is twice 6 volts so the resistor will have to share 50% of the voltage and power. What you need is a resistor of 0.6 ohms and a power rating of at least 60 watts. That is, the same as the solenoid.
I don't know what the resistance and power rating is of the resistors sold by the vendors but they are made for the horns. I suspect the power ratings would be similar but you can connect a number of them in different ways to get just about whatever resistance you want at whatever power rating you want. (I have not had much success with them on a horn - maybe because of quality issues and their ratings being dodgey)
The soleniod consumes 60 watts of power (P=VxI) P=6X10=60 watts
12 volts is twice 6 volts so the resistor will have to share 50% of the voltage and power. What you need is a resistor of 0.6 ohms and a power rating of at least 60 watts. That is, the same as the solenoid.
I don't know what the resistance and power rating is of the resistors sold by the vendors but they are made for the horns. I suspect the power ratings would be similar but you can connect a number of them in different ways to get just about whatever resistance you want at whatever power rating you want. (I have not had much success with them on a horn - maybe because of quality issues and their ratings being dodgey)
