So I want to hide a new style stereo (mp3) in the glove box of my 54. Ive been looking at 6 to 12 volt inverters but Im not familiar with them or how well they work? Ive seen them on FleaBay for as cheap as $59 and on other sites like Myeres for as much as $175 plus shipping? also Im told there are two kinds....positive or negative body ground....Anyone done this? if so where can I get a good converter?
So I want to hide a new style stereo (mp3) in the glove box of my 54. Ive been looking at 6 to 12 volt inverters but Im not familiar with them or how well they work? Ive seen them on FleaBay for as cheap as $59 and on other sites like Myeres for as much as $175 plus shipping? also Im told there are two kinds....positive or negative body ground....Anyone done this? if so where can I get a good converter?
Hi, new member here. Saw your question, and have some answers. Disclosure:I manufacture and sell a range of such devices.
These converters don't magically 'generate' extra voltage. They take the 6v and convert it to 12v by taking extra current (amps) from your 6v.
For example, your 12v radio uses 5 amps at 12v. The voltage is being doubled (6 to 12), so the converter will take double the 5 amps and convert it to double the voltage. However, because in physics nothing is 100% efficient, the converter will take some more amps to make up for internal losses. Most will operate at about 80% efficiency, not too bad considering what they are doing. The technology is quite significant, and not cheap. When installing, make sure you use short heavy leads, usually thru a relay, and all connections, fuseholders, switches etc must be low resistance to minimise voltage drop.
Many folk use converters, and as you say, the price varies considerably.
Mostly that is to do with the current the unit can supply at the 12 volts. The $50-$60 units are limited to about 2 - 3 amps. That isn't much for a modern radio or CD player. Also, once you have 12v available you will find other uses for it, eg GPS mapping (rally's), charge the 'phone, cameras, windscreen washer kit, oogah horn, A/C clutch etc.
When using one for multiple devices, where the total amps draw of all of them would exceed the available output of the converter, it's important to remember that virtually never will all those items be operating at the same time.
Most converters can supply more output current (amps) at higher input voltage, ie when the engine is above idle with the genny charging. However, it's important that they can supply a reasonable current when the battery voltage is lower than 6v, because at idle, and with other items going, eg lights, your battery voltage will fall substantially below 6v. If the converter can't operate at say 5v, whatever you have connected to it will also stop running. The supplier should be able to tell you the output current available at the various input voltages.
Some brands are only suitable for one chassis polarity or the other. Ours is fine with either. That means you don't have to isolate anything at all. A modern 12v neg chassis radio is simply installed straight into a neg or pos chassis 6v vehicle.
I could give more info, diagrams etc but I'm not sure of the rules here, and I don't wish to break them.
Mount a small motor cycle battery in the trunk and hook to the radio, it will play great and you may need to charge the battery once or twice a season.
