Want to hook up GPS in my 50 Ford

[Old Redneck]

I am still looking for a converter to run the GPS in my early Fords.Any of you ever done this? That 6 volts pos ground to 12 volts neg. ground

[FL&WVMIKE]

REDNECK .................
It can be done. Back in the day, when EVERYBODY had to have a CB radio, I had one in my '34. I don't remember the details, right now though.
MIKE

[Rustyspokes]

Redneck.... Hook it up to a 12 volt Lantern Battery; or an alarm size battery, hidden up under the dash, the drain from a GPS is very low as it is a solid state device; not requiring much to run , JMHO .. D.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Does the GPS hook up directly to vehicle voltage, or does it plug into the cigar lighter with a little transformer?? Reason I ask is that many electronic widgets are actually 5 volts and use a stepdown, so maybe a very small stepdown regulator (see plans and info in recent R&C!) is the ticket. The reg would have to be built for the polarity, but a GPS could I believe then be hooked right in...it is a little plastic box isolated from vehicle, and it will never know that it is grounding differently than the rest of the car.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Redneck

I am still looking for a converter to run the GPS in my early Fords.Any of you ever done this? That 6 volts pos ground to 12 volts neg. ground

Redneck, as I mentioned on your previous post on this same subject, you do not need 12V to power a GPS. They will work just fine on 6V but you must reverse polarity going to the GPS if your system is still positive ground 6V. I run my Garmin GPS and charge my cell phone on 6V. I don't know if your CB would work on 6V though, but I carry small hand held CB that works well using its own internal batteries (3 AA cells @ 4.5V).

Here is what I posted the last time you asked this question in case you didn't see this response:

"I run my Garvin GPS and charge my iphone on the stock six volt system in my '35 fordor sedan. Since my car still has a stock positive ground electrical system I could not just plug these items directly into my stock cigar lighter socket. What I did, based on some advice from G.M. (George Mitchell), was make an adapter/extension cord, using a male cigar lighter plug and female cigar lighter receptacle. This plugs into the stock six volt system but converts the polarity going to the GPS/cell phone from positive ground to negative ground. I don't know if this would allow your CB to work on 6V though but my GPS and phone work just fine. You could also do this by somehow insulating the cigar lighter socket, that mounts in the dash, and then switch the 6V connections at the lighter socket to give a reversed polarity"

[oldford2]

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My GPS will last 3-4 hours on a charge so for day trips I just turn it on from time to time when needed. We took a 7 day trip last summer and I bought a small unit that I plug in at the motel and it has a receptacle that accepts a "cigar lighter" plug and charges @12 volts. John

[Old Redneck]

I have the charger for the GPS but I still want to hook up the GPS to 6 volts pos. ground.When on tour it does not last all day, it goes dead mid day.

[oldford2]

Ken,
Did you read JM's post??? I think he has answered your question twice. John

[paul2748]

Get an inverter, cut off the end of the GPS wire that goes into the cigar lighter and put the appropriate terminals on the wires to match the inverter.. Google "inverter"

[Cecil/WV]

I bought an inverter and put a lighter under the dash and run a GPS and a satellite radio. It has worked for several thousand miles with no problems.

[Al NJ]

I still like to use the "folding paper GPS" I get from AAA.
They work on 6 or 12 volt, positive or negative ground.
They're traditional, but I do have to use my reading glasses.

[Philip McCarty]

I use my 12volt battery jumper pack. It has a cigar lighter connection. I put the (modern)pack behind the seat and plug it in. It works great.

[JT FORD]

If you cut off the end that goes into the cigerette lighter and attach it to a 12 volt supply, your Garmin will be toast! It does not operate on 6 or 12 volt, more like 3-5 volts.