Topic: reducing voltage from 12 to 6 to run stock gauges

[gregk]

I would like to retain the original 6 volt gauges in my 54 Meteor  wagon( canadian ford) while updating the electrical system to 12 volts.  There is a voltage reducer available from the auto parts store but you need to know what the amp load of the gauge(s) are.  Of course there is nothing on the gauge that indicates the amp load.  The gauges I am hoping to use are the fuel and the temperature.
How do I determine the load?

Greg

[Duke McDukiedook]

To measure amperage you need to break the circuit and measure it with an ammeter whille it is running.

[gregk]

Dukie

Thanks, it will take some doing as the car is in the construction stage.  I'd better get working.

greg

[cb650]

I bought one for my old chevy truck.  It was either whitney or jim carter.  Pretty sure it was jc whitny.

[gregk]

CB 650

Did one reducer work for all the gauges?  I bought a reducer from the autoparts place but the instructions indicate that you I may need more than one depending on the amp load.  The lower the load, the more reducers you have to use. 

[fuzzybutt]

they actually make resistor packs to do just what youre looking to do. try dearborn classics, if not them then SOMONE will have the parts you need.

[cb650]

I did only use it for the fuel.  everything else was mechanical.