Forum Home Forum Home > Bantam Trailer - Discussion - For Sale - Wanted > Bantam Trailer - Tech Discussion
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Bantam Wire Harness Voltage?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Bantam Wire Harness Voltage?

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
bryuly View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 28 July 2018
Location: Meridian Idaho
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bryuly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bantam Wire Harness Voltage?
    Posted: 30 July 2018 at 8:18pm
Hello all,

I just joined this forum to help with questions about my Bantam trailer. Any help would be much appreciated.

I just did some reading on the forums and noticed that some people were talking about a harness but I did not see my main question answered.

Does anyone know if it is possible to wire the trailer up so that I can have both 6V and 12V connections. I would like to make it look like a stock trailer to connect to my CJ and then have the option to do some sort of adapter or something...? to then connect to my modern vehicle that is of course 12V.

Is this possible or does anyone have a method to get it to work? I have one idea but was looking for a more "clean" route. My other idea is just to buy one of the magnetic sets of lights from harbour freight or similar and use that when towing behind the 12V vehicle.

Thanks,
Brad
Back to Top
mickeykelley View Drop Down
Member
Member
Avatar

Joined: 26 May 2016
Location: Republic of Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mickeykelley Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 July 2018 at 10:02pm
I'm no electrical expert but wire is wire. Generally speaking 6 volt wire is slightly heavier but I'm not sure if that really matters for just lights. Your big issue is if the trailer has 6 volt light bulbs, the 12 vol system will blow the bulbs.  And my understanding is with 12 volt bulbs, the 6 volt will cause them to be very dim.  At least this is my understanding. 
Back to Top
PackRat View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 18 June 2018
Location: Novato, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 84
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PackRat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 July 2018 at 10:31pm
Yup...that's the story on the wire gauge and bulbs. Since there seem to be several designs of jeep trailer fittings and most trailers have had their connectors "modernized" over they years, you will need to find an adaptor or make a short "pigtail" with the connections that match your existing jeep and trailer connections.
GPW-17963 4/24/42
Ford F-250
Alaskan Camper
Bantam T3-C #21170
Back to Top
bryuly View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 28 July 2018
Location: Meridian Idaho
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bryuly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 July 2018 at 10:34pm
So if I just swap out bulbs from 6v to 12v depending on my situation/vehicle I may be ok? 

I guess that would probably make sense. If V= IR then maybe the resistance is mainly in the bulb and if the resistance in a 6v bulb is twice that in a 12v bult it would make sense that it would blow. Likewise if a 12v bulb is connected to a 6v system then it would be "half" as bright since the resistance is not high enough.

If that is wrong please let me know. Thanks!
Back to Top
mickeykelley View Drop Down
Member
Member
Avatar

Joined: 26 May 2016
Location: Republic of Texas
Status: Offline
Points: 440
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mickeykelley Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 July 2018 at 10:38pm
I guess you could swap out bulbs, but that seems like a pain to me. Maybe put in 12 bulbs but make a special pigtail insert with an inline voltage reducer that you could stick in line when on the 6 volt system.  I guess it really depends on which you use the most and the hassle you want to go thru.  
Back to Top
bryuly View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 28 July 2018
Location: Meridian Idaho
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bryuly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 July 2018 at 3:23am
yeah...switching it out might be a pain. I probably won't be using it too much but a voltage step down might be the way to go. I will look into that. Thanks for the idea.
Back to Top
Unkamonkey View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 23 Mar. 2016
Location: Greeley CO
Status: Offline
Points: 2093
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Unkamonkey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 July 2018 at 5:05am
I suppose you are trying to keep your Jeep 6V and tow it with a 12 V vehicle. It can be done but it is more work than you want to think about to get the resistors and diodes to play well. All of my Jeeps were converted to 12 volt and If I run into a purist, I have shelves of MB parts I can place in his hands.
uncamonkey
Back to Top
Rus Curtis View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 25 Mar. 2010
Location: Alabama
Status: Offline
Points: 1733
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rus Curtis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 July 2018 at 2:05pm
Brad,
I'm wanting to do the same thing with my trailer.  Since my jeep is already 12V, I don't have to consider what you're struggling with.
 
I'm not an electrician but agree that installing a converter would be intensive (and could fail at some point - blowing out the 6V bulbs - at the worst time).  The other option of swapping the bulbs could work but I bet that would get old after a few times.
 
Another possibility would be to use magnetic tow lights as a temporary 12V lighting system when behind your modern vehicle. Temporary clips can secure the wiring.
 
Rus Curtis
Alabama
1954 CJ3B
Bantam T3-C
Back to Top
bryuly View Drop Down
Member
Member


Joined: 28 July 2018
Location: Meridian Idaho
Status: Offline
Points: 10
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bryuly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 July 2018 at 7:13pm
uncamonkey, at this point I am going to keep the Jeep as 6volt. Changing the voltage on the trailer seems much easier...


Rus, the link you provided is what I was thinking about doing. I just was looking for a cleaner setup. At this point it seems like going the route of the magnet lights will be the easiest...
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.06
Copyright ©2001-2022 Web Wiz Ltd.