another radio question

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
The radio in my 49 is still the one it came with.
When the car was still 6 volts I know that it worked just fine, we changed the car to 12 volts but didn't really do anything to the radio.
Out of not knowing if there would be any problems running the radio with the 12 volt system i have left it off.Could I even turn it on with out something bad happening?
Is there anything I need to do to the radio to make it compatible with the 12 volt switch over?
I was looking at that reddi-rad system and it seems like it would work well for my needs if I anted to go that way.

Lisa

Comments

  • bartibog1
    bartibog1 Expert Adviser
    edited June 2011
    get a 12 volt to 6 volt reducer and install and turn her on it just might work
    http://cgi.ebay.ca/12-Volt-6-Volt-Radio-Reducer-/370437125792?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item563fc5f6a0
    thats what i am using, you can get them cheaper than this one. i also replaced the virbator in mine with a electronic unit {you need proper polarity if you do this}
    steve

    ps you will damage the parts if you turn on as 12 volt with out the 12 to 6 reducer in place
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Lisa, just turning that radio on can indeed do some serious damage, from the 12v power, the change to negative ground, or both. A resistor in the power supply wire (0.3 ohm, 50 watt) can take care of the 12v situation, but the polarity issue is more problematic (some radios can handle reversed polarity with no problem; others will blow the power supply circuit if you try it. If you want that radio to operate as original, check with the HET Club's radio adviser, Steve Engel, in CA. Don't have an email address, but the phone is (951) 332-1863. Steve can probably change the power supply to work with negative ground.

    Another approach, which I did in my '51, was to have one of the specialty shops change out the internals and replace them with a 12v FM-AM unit. The look of the radio is retained, but it's an FM radio when you turn it on. Then you can cycle the off-on switch quickly and it'll come on in AM mode. Another choice would be to just have FM innards installed and forget about AM (unless you're a big talk show fan!)
  • Marconi
    Marconi Senior Contributor
    Thanks Park, My number has changed to 909- 543-6078. All the stepdown radios will operate fine on pos. or neg. ground. You can use a dropping resistor but the radio is still gonna draw 8 to 10 amps because it's still a 6 volt radio. The radio can be changed over to 12 volts which will make it draw only 4 to 5 amps. As far as F.M. or CDs etc , the Redi-Rad is the way to go , works fine and not really expensive, $100.00 to $150.00 depending on which model you need. email is steveengel65@yahoo.com
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Thank you, Steve. Good info. Is info on the Redi-Rad here on the forum somewhere? I know nothing about it and would like to.

    Park
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I also would like more info on the redi-rad. Especially the contact info.
    Bob Hickson
  • MikeWA
    MikeWA Senior Contributor
    Lisa, I would sure disconnect the power wire from the radio if I were you. I can just about guarantee you'll take someone for a ride, and he/she will say "Does the radio work" as they reach up and turn it on, before you have a chance to stop them.

    And yes, 12 volts to a 6 volt radio will do some damage. :(
  • Hudson Grandpa
    Hudson Grandpa Expert Adviser
    http://www.rediscoveradio.com/index.html
  • forjack842
    forjack842 Expert Adviser
    As a good thing" to do, I'd seriously consider replacing the old mechanical vibrator with a new solid state one. These are available from Tubes and More for about $25. The dropping resistor is by no means a perfect 6 volt drop. The voltage drop start at 8 or 9 then down towards 6 as the redio warms up increasing the current across the resistor. The old mechanical vibrators will tend to be erratic with age and drifting voltage and some will stop their vibration altogether thereby stopping the radio from woking.
    The Solid state ones are far more tolerant of voltage variations. When I rebuilt my Moto-65 earlier this year and installed it into my 29 Hudson Model R Sedan I had vibrator issues even with several different vibrators and the extra heavy welding wire on the battery posts. Once I replaced the mechanical vibrator with the Solid state one the radio performed perfectly. Beats the daylights out of being under the dash replacing vibrators!
    Also I would expect the radio will need a bit of capacitor replacement which is almost a given for the era and their age.
    Jack
  • ESSX28-1
    ESSX28-1 Senior Contributor
    BJ__TN wrote:
    I also would like more info on the redi-rad. Especially the contact info.
    Bob Hickson

    http://www.rediscoveradio.com/
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Heres a good site for info.

    http://www.rediscoveradio.com/
  • Marconi
    Marconi Senior Contributor
    FYI, rediscover radio is Redi-Rad !
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