Go Bottom6 volt light on a 12 volt system
 | richard james allen
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2001-01-11 23310
I have always been told that the stupid question is the one not asked. Thus said, here goes...I have a 6 volt tractor light which was left over from my Ford 8N. I need a rear light on the Kubota L3000. The 6 volt light fits nicely and there is a hot wire already directly underneath it (nice design Kubota!). My question is: will this light just burn brighter and then die or will it be ok? Is there any resister? that I could put on it to lower the charge? Will this hurt the tractor's electrical system? I really hate to junk the old light and spend more $$ on a new one. Please don't laugh too hard and thanks for you input. Rich.
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Add Photo6 volt light on a 12 volt system
| Bird Senter
Join Date: Jun 1999 Posts: 962 
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2001-01-11 23312
Rich, using a 6 volt light bulb on a 12 volt system will indeed make the light burn brighter; briefly, and then it'll burn out. However, you should be able to use the light fixture if you just find a 12 volt bulb that fits the socket. ....
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Add Photo6 volt light on a 12 volt system
| richard james allen
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-01-11 23313
Bird, I think that this is a sealed tractor light. I am not sure if the bulb can be removed. Thanks for the suggestion. Rich ....
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Add Photo6 volt light on a 12 volt system
| Danny Hsu
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-01-11 23315
Richard, You can use the 6 volt lamp with the following modifications: (a) you can hook up two 6 volt lamps in 'series' or hook up a voltage dropping resistor in series with one lamp. The auto parts store should be able to help you with a voltage dropping resistor. If you are interested, I will give you more details. Have a nice day. Dan. ....
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Add Photo6 volt light on a 12 volt system
| richard james allen
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-01-11 23317
Danny, yes I would be interested. I was pretty sure that there was some type of resister that could be used. Are these resisters easy to install? What would I ask when talking to the auto store? Thanks Rich. ....
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Add Photo6 volt light on a 12 volt system
| Danny Hsu
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-01-11 23318
Richard, The resistor should be easy to obtain. Go to a well stablished (old and been in business for years) auto parts store and ask for a voltage dropping resistor. Cost about $5.00. You can also change the sealed beam with another rated for 12 volts at about $5.00. For example, the accessory pistol grip lamp that you insert into the cigarette lighter socket is 12 volts. If the diameter needs to be larger, asked for a replacement lamp for a four lamp headlight system like for a 1959 Chevrolet. I believe the number is 4001 for low beam and 4002 for high beam. Try 4411. Take the lamp with you to the auto part store and match for size. Hooking it up with two 6 volt lamps or with a resistor in lieu of the second 6 volt lamp is identical. Positive terminal to positive battery, negative lamp to positive lamp or resistor, negative resistor or lamp to negative battery or chassis (ground). Gook luck ....
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Add Photo6 volt light on a 12 volt system
| KlayW in MI
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-01-11 23338
D. H. has a point, for the cost of the resistor you got a 12 light. If you do stick with the 6 volter then you have invested in the resistor and now need to find replacement 6 volt bulbs from now on. I would check with an electronic not electrical supply store. I'd say Radio Shack but there are some really good ones and some reeeaallly baaaddd ones! I say electronic supply store cause those guys should be able to run the formula's for you if you take the bulb in with you. Might be cheaper than auto stores also. If you have an ohm meter measure the resistance of the 6 volt light. I would guess around 1 ohm. What you read on the meter is the ohmage resistor you need to place in series with the light to work in a 12 volt system. Watts is the harder part to figure out. The guys at the store should be able to figure it out. Even easier if the 6 volt bulb is labeled in watts. A 30 watt 6 volt bulb would need a 30 watt resistor. By in "series" we mean from the battery+__to__resistor___to___6voltbulb__to____-battery/gnd. If you need to figure the wattage take 6volts/ohms read with meter to get the current draw. Take that answer and multiply it by the 6 volts to get watts. Ohm is the resistance needed and watts is the power dissipation capacity of the resistor. Good luck. ....
Link: All the formulas and conversion tables are here
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Add Photo6 volt light on a 12 volt system
| Chris in IN
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-01-11 23339
You should be able to get a replacement 12 volt sealed lamp for the light fixture. I did this when I converted my Farmall H from 6 volt to 12 volt. ....
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