12 volt system
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Senior User
Joined: May 2008
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From: Fort Walton Beach, FL
12 volt system
I need some advice from you guys.....
I have a '48 F4 with a 302 from an '88 Grand Marquis (switched to carb) and I am converting the electrical system to 12 volt. I would like to keep the starter button because I want the truck to "look" as stock as possible. The bad news is that we I got the truck it was missing pretty much everything (long story) so I don't have the orginal ignition switch, light switch, starter button, anything. What kind of switches will I need to purchase to work with a 12 volt system? Can I buy original style 6 volt switches or will I need to use later model 12 volt switches?
I appreciate your advice.
I have a '48 F4 with a 302 from an '88 Grand Marquis (switched to carb) and I am converting the electrical system to 12 volt. I would like to keep the starter button because I want the truck to "look" as stock as possible. The bad news is that we I got the truck it was missing pretty much everything (long story) so I don't have the orginal ignition switch, light switch, starter button, anything. What kind of switches will I need to purchase to work with a 12 volt system? Can I buy original style 6 volt switches or will I need to use later model 12 volt switches?
I appreciate your advice.
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From: NM
Any quality 6v switch will work fine on 12v, because the current loads are 1/2. The starter solenoid though ought to be a 12v, and I know of no 12v solenoids that use the original Bonus Built scheme where the button grounds the solenoid coil. So all you need to do is use a 2-wire mid-fifties starter button with a modern Ford solenoid.
There have been a bunch of posts on here about problems with the cheaply made chinese solenoids sold on eBay, stay away from them. If you have the donor car's solenoid, it would be a good choice.
There have been a bunch of posts on here about problems with the cheaply made chinese solenoids sold on eBay, stay away from them. If you have the donor car's solenoid, it would be a good choice.
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From: Marietta, Ohio
Would that be the same as Unscrupulously manufactured parts of Asian origin??? Just trying to avoid the scalding retrobution of the PC Police...
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The way mine is set up ( 55 f100) converted from 6v to 12v i used the original starter button, and a modern ford solenoid. You can pick the solenoid up at any local parts supplier for around 15.00. If wired correctly it should work.....goodluck
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Senior User
Joined: May 2008
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From: Fort Walton Beach, FL
Thank you all for the feedback.
So the ignition switch I could use either the 6v or a 12v from a mid fifties truck, but the starter button would need to come from the mid fifties truck.
I do have a modern solenoid already.
So then the biggest hurdle is wiring it correctly.
So the ignition switch I could use either the 6v or a 12v from a mid fifties truck, but the starter button would need to come from the mid fifties truck.
I do have a modern solenoid already.
So then the biggest hurdle is wiring it correctly.
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you can get starter button from most any heavy truck dealer or napa. sometimes industrial-forklift application- lots of different options for button. all will work. i personally would use 12volt headlight switch, lots of current flowing here.
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Fleet Owner
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From: NM
The 48-52 starter button has one wire and it grounds the wire when pushed. The 53-on starter button looks exactly the same, but has two wires that it connects when you push it. The older solenoid coils were "hot" and just needed the terminal grounded to close, while the newer ones want power applied to them. So the two-wire buttons have power from the battery or ignition switch on one wire, and the other goes to the solenoid.
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Given the same resistance, a 6-volt circuit carries twice the current of a 12-volt circuit.
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