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10-20-2014, 03:23 PM | #1 |
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Electric Power Conversion Options?
Ok sports fans, here is the quandary I find myself in. Yesterday, we got the pickup out for a drive on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We were out quite a while tootling around town. My spousal unit started to observe that her cell phone battery was quite low and we have no way to charge it in the A.
Is there a convenient and practical device available that can be attached to a 6 volt system that will convert power to a 12 volt output and be conducive to providing a USB port at the end of the contraption? I haven't run across one yet so I thought I would pose the question here. Please don't tell me I need to convert the car to 12v cause it ain't gonna happen. |
10-20-2014, 03:26 PM | #2 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
cell phone charge on 6 volts
put in a cigarette lighter and your good to go tk
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10-20-2014, 05:24 PM | #3 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
I use one of these in my PU. Has 2 USB & 2 Cigarette Lighter type sockets. Just make sure your polarity is wired up correctly.
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10-20-2014, 05:32 PM | #4 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
Do a quick search for the nifty installation by Montanafordman: My Cell Phone / GPS charging solution (under $20 w/pics). He has really done a nice job with his power supply.
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10-20-2014, 05:45 PM | #5 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
Here's what I use. Runs for 12 hours, no ugly wiring on the Model A, recharges in less than an hour.
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10-20-2014, 05:50 PM | #6 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
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10-20-2014, 06:14 PM | #7 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
I think what people really want to look at to power their USB devices are the portable battery units that you can buy today.
I bought my wife the Anker 12000 Mah battery and she just loves it. I believe it can to like 7 or 8 full recharges (that is from almost dead) on her Iphone 5. You can get larger units, it is just a matter of what you are trying to run and how big a unit you wish to carry with you. The best part, which your heavy smartphone using wife will just love you for, is she can take it anywhere. So walking in the mall and posting on Facebook all day long- no problem. Out at the kids sports event, no problem. Some you can even power up 3 USB devices. The Anker Portable Batteries Another neat thing (which is USB powered) are the Bluetooth portable speakers. No need for a radio. Just load up your favorite music in your smart device or let Pandora stream. When you get to the car show, no problem, keep playing music in the back ground. The speakers can be up to 30 feet from the smart device. Lots of options, plus some have found the USB 12volt adapters are running off the 6 volt battery directly. |
10-20-2014, 11:53 PM | #8 | |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
Quote:
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10-21-2014, 06:43 AM | #9 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
These work great for positive or negative ground cars because you just clip the red terminal to the positive source, whether it be ground or some terminal. I bought these sockets off ebay and soldered some speaker and clips wire to them. Total cost is about $5 each. I use this in my Model A and 1950 Studebaker to run my GPS. Both cars are 6 volts positive ground.
I don't own a cell phone, so I wasn't aware of the battery pack that Kevin mentioned, but that seems like another very good option. |
10-21-2014, 07:12 AM | #10 |
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Location: Luck WI
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
Because I like to have the right power feed to my devices I purchased a 6 volt positive ground to 12 volt negative ground converter. They sell them on eBay or most A parts suppliers ( eBay is cheaper).
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10-21-2014, 02:55 PM | #11 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
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10-21-2014, 03:01 PM | #12 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
Good for you not owning a cell phone. I use mine so much for work. That I feel naked without it. Wish it was not that way.
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10-21-2014, 10:12 PM | #13 |
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Location: Cape Cod
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
USB uses a 5 volt power source to the device it plugs into.
An adapter that reduces 6 volts to 5 volts would work. So would one that reduces 12 volts to 5. Marc |
10-21-2014, 10:52 PM | #14 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
most of your cell phone chargers have a voltage regulator that regulate it down to 5 volts anyways. do what the others have said and wire in or clip in a regular ol cig lighter socket to your 6v model a and its good to go. Just remember the center terminal should be positive and the outer jacket should be negative for the cell charger to work correctly
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10-21-2014, 11:45 PM | #15 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
Tom is too busy repairing generators and dreaming up incredible Model A fix-it jigs to have time to use a cell phone. And he certainly could care less about twitter, facebook, and all that other artificial stuff going on out there
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10-22-2014, 08:27 PM | #16 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
It may not seem like much of a difference, but USB is 5 volt, and a Model A is 6 volt. You might think "close enough..." I made that mistake.
When you really get moving, that little generator can easily put out 8 volts or more. I burned out a good MP3 player that way. I used a gizmo similar to the one that CarlG recommended. I handles the voltage variation just fine, and always puts out 5 volts. I hard-wired it in, and hid it behind a kick panel. I then ran a couple of USB extension cord. I have one hidden under the dash, and another that pops up behind the seat by the package tray. They don't show at all, and are very convenient.
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10-23-2014, 12:07 AM | #17 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
A cellphone vehicle charger will work just fine on 6 - 8 volts in your Model A. No converters necessary.
As for the modern cellphones constantly needing to be charged dilemma, that is why I still use a pager. A single AA battery runs the pager for 3 months or more. And, when it does get low, it gives you 1 to 2 weeks notice that it needs to be replaced. Pop in another AA battery from any store, and you're good to go. Also, pager service is only $60 for the whole year, including voicemail. Just turn the cellphone on when you want to actually call someone back, otherwise leave it off and always have a fully charged battery. |
10-23-2014, 08:36 AM | #18 |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
A word of caution. When you have a positive ground vehicle with a charging adapter plugged into a outlet, make sure you unplug the adapter from the outlet when you remove the phone or device from the cord as the plug on the device end has a negative charge on it's outer shell. Don't ask how I know this. I have a new phone cord now.
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10-23-2014, 05:52 PM | #19 | |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
Quote:
From E-Bay: Ford Model A Flathead V8 Converter 6 8 volt + Positive Ground to 12 Volt Neg - $59.00
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10-23-2014, 08:40 PM | #20 | |
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Re: Electric Power Conversion Options?
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