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Technical Tech: $1.98 6 volt gas gauge fix.

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Rocket88, Jan 19, 2004.

  1. Rocket88
    Joined: Jul 11, 2001
    Posts: 912

    Rocket88
    Member

    Thought I'd post this one since we get a lot of questions on it, here's a cheap 6 volt reducer.
    I don't like those resistors (they get too hot) and I've tried those expensive voltage drops (fried em')
    How about a cell phone charger! I found this at an electronics surplus store. It takes 12 volt DC and reduces it to 6 volt DC at 2 amps.
    Cut off the cigarette lighter end and hook it to 12 volts. At the other end is a jack, open up the charger and solder on a couple output wires. Hook up the output side to your gas guage and that's it! We've beeen running them for a couple of years now with no problems.
    And it was only $1.98!!

    MOD EDIT:
    Original Thread here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8274
     

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    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 30, 2012
  2. Mike Paul
    Joined: Oct 10, 2003
    Posts: 998

    Mike Paul
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    did this on a couple of cars and it does work good....Mike
     
  3. burndup
    Joined: Mar 11, 2002
    Posts: 1,938

    burndup
    Member
    from Norco, CA

    its a shame this is on page 2...

    Also, if ya ever run across a device called a 7806.... its a 6v regulator, looks like a big transistor... 3 pins, one takes up to 35v in, center is ground, and the third is regulated 6v out... there more common bretheren are 7805 and 7812... 5v and 12 v respectively.... Radio shack carries those, so you can go in and at least see whatthey look like.... but they are not 6v... There are tricks to making the 5v one do closer to 6v, but its beyond the scope here... the cell phone charger is much easier!

    THEN, if you are ever tossing something electronic, check it out for one of those regulators, they are common... you can unsolder it, and use it again...
     
  4. cadlights
    Joined: Jun 12, 2003
    Posts: 865

    cadlights
    Member
    from Hooper, Ut

    After ya get done with hooking up the gage. Take the cigerette lighter end and put some alligator clips on
    the wires and use it for a tester. Just plug into the lighter outlet and you can test componants like power windows, radios and such with out running a wire clear to the battery. Thrift stores are a great source, just use your imagination.
     

  5. JSM56
    Joined: Nov 25, 2003
    Posts: 285

    JSM56
    Member

    great post. the cellular charger is an easy way to go. burndup is right on the money, easy to find 6v regulator at some larger electronics stores, but radio shack carries only 5v and 12v because its common for computers. i got a 6v at FRY's electronics for under a dollar. 3 wires, ground, 12v in, 6v out. and much smaller than the charger.
     
  6. d2_willys
    Joined: Sep 8, 2007
    Posts: 4,285

    d2_willys
    Member
    from Kansas

    You mean amps? Try 6-10 amps for 6V fan motors. And they are inductive loads, so unless you have a voltage regulator in the 20-40 amp range, you will be looking at smokey joe for a regulator!

    BTW: I doubt that these phone chargers are any good above 250ma or 1/4 amperes. They are meant to charge lithium ion and ni-cad batteries which require a very small amount of current for charging. Most fuel gauges will draw more current when reading full as to reading empty, as the sending unit decrease in resistance when full.
     
  7. nali
    Joined: Sep 15, 2009
    Posts: 828

    nali
    Member

    78xx and 79xx have a thermal protection. They can provide up to 1 or 1.5 amp with a dissipator, but they won t burn.
     
  8. Road Runner
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 1,256

    Road Runner
    Member

    I use a zener diode NTE 5118A and resistor to get 6V for the fuel gauge.
    Cheapest and simplest method.
     
  9. Truckedup
    Joined: Jul 25, 2006
    Posts: 4,661

    Truckedup
    Member

    Wired in series or what?
     
  10. Road Runner
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 1,256

    Road Runner
    Member

    [​IMG]

    I don't remember the resistor value.
    It depends on your battery voltage and fuel gauge current draw, but 1/2W rating is fine.
    The zener is 6V and rated for 5W and will last forever.
     

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