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Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:43 pm

Digging around in my shop and i came upon a 12 volt tach and was wondering if it could be installed on my 63 6 volt beetle ?

and if so how will it read ?..... will it show correct rpms when set to 4 cylinders?

Any help on this would be very helpfull thanks Brett

Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:55 pm

I don't think any 12 volt electrical device will work with a 6 volt system outright. You could get an inverter to boost the voltage. I just got a 6 volt tach through these guys.. http://www.tachshack.com. Nothing fancy but it works. Check my gallery for a pic. Chris

Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:00 pm

thanks for the help i actually hooked the 12 volt tack up and it and the light works but the rpm readings seem low and that is what i am wondering now if it wont last (the tack will burn out) and wont read correct?

Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:06 pm

I have only used a 12v tachometer on a 6v car with an old radio shack inverter.

I don't think running 6v to it will hurt it, it just won't work right.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:48 am

This 6V to 12V Converter will work great for a 12 volt gauge or tach in a 6 volt car.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=599103

This will work also.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=548683

Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:23 am

Great idea i just had a look at clip 1 and they sell a 6v to 12 v drop for around 10 buck again thanks for the idea

Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:03 pm

blamb wrote: Great idea i just had a look at clip 1 and they sell a 6v to 12 v drop for around 10 buck again thanks for the idea

That won't work, it's a voltage dropping resistor, as are all resistors.
It will only drop or reduce the voltage (less voltage, NOT MORE voltage).
You want to increase the voltage form 6 volts to 12 volts.

ACC-C10-5754 - VOLTAGE DROP 12V TO 6V CONVERTER
http://www2.cip1.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=voltage+drop

Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:06 am

Looking i to the same thing.. ive got a tach . Ive got a step up 6v to 12v.. my question is wiring it all up.

Im Guessing ignition switch 6v to step up converter 12 volts out to the tach .
Negative side of coil to other connection on the tach .

Is that the correct way? . Or do i also need to step up or down the wire coming from the coil?

Any help would be appreciated massively

Fri Jul 31, 2020 11:59 am

Huntd105 wrote: do i also need to step up or down the wire coming from the coil?

Any help would be appreciated massively

No - the feed wire from coil negative terminal would connect directly to the gauge.