6V to 12 V???

[PoochyCor]

I have a dream of headlights so bright they actually cast a shadow! Other than a 12 volt conversion is there any way to brighten my head and tail lights on a '64 Kadett (6V)?

[baz]

you could fit relays to the lights so the head light feed from the switch just turns on the relays then the lights get a feed direct from the battery
this will give you the best amount of power to the bulbs and save the load on the light switch

i have seen a vw beetle that had a 6 volt system that the owner fitted an extra 12 V battery and used relays from the head light feed to switch the 12 V feed just to the head lights with their own returns to the battery so his headlights were 12 V and the rest of the car was 6 V that might be an option for you , then you just need to put a charger on the 12 V battery or get one of those solar panels that recharge the car battery and wire that to the 12V direct
just a thought hth

[George]

I used to have a vw van that had dim headlights and the starter was slow to turn the engine over.I changed the 6 volt battery for an 8 volt and the headlights were brighter and it started much quicker.I don't know if 8 volt batteries are still available but this worked for me.

[PoochyCor]

What about this AND how might I go about it:

use a 12V alternator & battery, use a relay switch to the headlights and use some sort of step down to 6V for the rest of the car.

???

[namba209]

Going to a 12V system would probably be the best solution. I don't recall any 6V systems having an alternator, just a generator, which wasn't really strong enuff to power the headlights. No need to change any wires, unless they are suspect, the 12V system usually runs less amps than the 6V systems. All you have to do is change out the lites in the car to 12V and use a ballast resistor for the GM or Chrylser coil ignition to power your instruments. HTH.

[GTJIM]

Get in touch with some of the old time hot rodders in your area or old VW people as they had the same trouble when converting their older cars from 6v to 12v

BTW: GM fuel gauges are still 6v till quite recently - they never changed them till electronics came along - So GM used 6v fuel gauges with 12v systems right up till a few years ago!

One of the old time 'tricks' was to use a pair of 6 volt batteries connected in series so they could be charged with a 12 volt alternator and run the lights off both of them (12 volts) and the rest of the wiring off just one of them (6 volts). So your headlight wiring circuit would be completely independant of the 6 volt loom that ran everything else.

[cherokee]

I don't know about 6v Opels, but have done quite a few Triumph, MG's and old Ford's that are 6v.

6v should work just fine, you just have to keep in mind that the stuff is very old and does not take very kindly to yucky connections and iffy wires.

Clean and inspect everything. I would bet that the wireing needs to be replaced. If you can jump your starter direct to the batt with known good cables and the thing cranks right over you know you have a wire issue. Same deal with the head lights, jump them direct to the batt and see what you have vs. using the switch in the car. (switches are a common point for problems) If you are having charging issues take the gen. someplace to have it checked, The last one I did for a 49 Ford was under $100, and it charges like a mad man now. There are other bits to the charging system that should be checked also.

I am one of those guys that likes to keep things the way they came...What I am getting at is the 6v system should work fine if all the other bits are in good shape. 12v convertions are pretty easy, I would suggest checking the wires anyway if you are going to 12v. A little more juice might give your car the new name of Somkey, and it might take some time for it to start to look like my last Led Zeppelin concert.

[PoochyCor]

There's a bit of me that would like to keep it 6V - and I may - but if I add a radio or an extra brake light it would be easier to get 12V parts.

I saw an add on the internet for 6V LED car bulbs for everything but the headlight - a little steep but not prohibitive. Perhaps I can find a 6V halogen headlight.

[cherokee]

I have seen some of the LED setups but I never liked them much, the ones that I have seen have been a perfect fit, but they are just missing something....they just don't look right....to me. If you have a chance look at one of the LED setups in person, working, on the car. It changed my mind.

[PoochyCor]

6 Volt LED Invoice Form

This is one of the sights I've seen the bulbs. They are an exact replacement bulb (plug in and go). And, as my dad would say, they are might proud of them - $20+.