It's been done, swapping 12V components onto a 6V motor. All too complicated for me, but
here's the quick way to do it (apparently) ....
6V to 12V Conversion
A person recently asked, “I have a 1964 BSA. In order to convert the system to 12 Volts, would I have to replace both alternator stator and rotor, or just the stator?”
The surprising answer is neither!! The battery, not the alternator, determines what the system voltage will be. Simply install the new battery, then the alternator gladly starts charging at the new voltage. You need only add a 12V battery, 12V bulbs and 12V ignition coils. Oddly enough, the 6V horn works great on 12V system; really nice and loud.
(The information on this type of conversion continues in the article, and makes interesting reading).
Source : http://www.gabma.us/elec/6Vto12V.pdf
Well, I'd have to try that to be convinced one way or the other, but the article did continue with
something that may answer the "why bother?" question ...
Why Convert to 12V ?
A little bit of education is required here. If you have a 35W headlamp bulb at 6V then that bulb needs 5.8A of current, but that same 35W bulb needs only half that much current at 12V. This is important because it’s electrical current that determines the size of the wire in your harness. So, for a given headlamp wattage, 12V simply uses the wire more efficiently. And too, if there should be any corrosion in your headlamp dip switch or one of the bullet connectors, Ohm’s Law tells us for an equal amount of corrosion, your headlamp will be less affected and therefore remain much brighter using 12V. Therefore, a conversion from 6V to 12V has an immediate safety advantage.
Any electrical gurus on the list that can comment on the first quote ??
here's the quick way to do it (apparently) ....
6V to 12V Conversion
A person recently asked, “I have a 1964 BSA. In order to convert the system to 12 Volts, would I have to replace both alternator stator and rotor, or just the stator?”
The surprising answer is neither!! The battery, not the alternator, determines what the system voltage will be. Simply install the new battery, then the alternator gladly starts charging at the new voltage. You need only add a 12V battery, 12V bulbs and 12V ignition coils. Oddly enough, the 6V horn works great on 12V system; really nice and loud.
(The information on this type of conversion continues in the article, and makes interesting reading).
Source : http://www.gabma.us/elec/6Vto12V.pdf
Well, I'd have to try that to be convinced one way or the other, but the article did continue with
something that may answer the "why bother?" question ...
Why Convert to 12V ?
A little bit of education is required here. If you have a 35W headlamp bulb at 6V then that bulb needs 5.8A of current, but that same 35W bulb needs only half that much current at 12V. This is important because it’s electrical current that determines the size of the wire in your harness. So, for a given headlamp wattage, 12V simply uses the wire more efficiently. And too, if there should be any corrosion in your headlamp dip switch or one of the bullet connectors, Ohm’s Law tells us for an equal amount of corrosion, your headlamp will be less affected and therefore remain much brighter using 12V. Therefore, a conversion from 6V to 12V has an immediate safety advantage.
Any electrical gurus on the list that can comment on the first quote ??
