Re: 12 volt AC in a 6 volt car

Posted by HH56 On 2011/1/2 10:48:45

You could but if in series, also need to think about how you are keeping the second battery charged. Also need to control the 12v to inside unit if tied in to regular system. Can get complicated.

Some have done it by hiding a totally independent 12v battery somewhere just for AC. Use a 6v relay operated by ignition switch to turn all on or off keeping the AC unit thinking it was a normal 12v setup. Advantage is total isolation and no chance of any 12v tie in with 6v. Inconvenience is in charging that second battery externally via charger. It may need to be done every day or so if a lot of use.

Others have added a small alternator just for the 12v battery. Mounting and driving that discreetly can be an issue.

With the size of the old generators, I've often wondered why both a small 12v and 6v alternator of 30 amps or so each couldn't be combined in a similar housing one in front of the other. Might even split the output from a single into two voltages although that gets to the voltage tie in again. Either could be made to look like a generator at quick glance ala PowerGen. It would then be no trick at all to hide a small independent motorcycle battery for AC somewhere if it were kept charged.

Even if something split were available, probably no demand though. It would be less than ideal for a solution. Purists still wouldn't want it and most others really wanting AC bad enough would convert to 12.