1966 Beetle AM Radio Question

Hi! I am the new owner of a '66 Beetle with the stock AM radio, which
does not work at the momnent. The Beetle was converted to 12 volt and
I assume the radio is 6. Is there a way to get the stock radio to
work? Is there a voltage regulator or some such gizmo that I could
wire up? Evenutally I'll be putting in a real stereo in the glove box,
but I'd like to get the old AM radio running.

thanks in advance!

Roy

In article .com>,
"Roy" > wrote:

> Hi! I am the new owner of a '66 Beetle with the stock AM radio, which
> does not work at the momnent. The Beetle was converted to 12 volt and
> I assume the radio is 6. Is there a way to get the stock radio to
> work? Is there a voltage regulator or some such gizmo that I could
> wire up? Evenutally I'll be putting in a real stereo in the glove box,
> but I'd like to get the old AM radio running.

Have this chap repair or swap or whatever he's willing to do for you:

<http://homepage.mac.com/stokester/>

I got a nice 6V 1961 SAPPHIRE AM radio from him and I was happy with his
workmanship.

--
___
|___| '61 - VW
(o\_|_/o) Bug! ALEA -- 35.9 BHP and not a bit more!
_U_____U_

Roy wrote:

> Hi! I am the new owner of a '66 Beetle with the stock AM radio, which
> does not work at the momnent. The Beetle was converted to 12 volt and
> I assume the radio is 6. Is there a way to get the stock radio to
> work? Is there a voltage regulator or some such gizmo that I could
> wire up? Evenutally I'll be putting in a real stereo in the glove box,
> but I'd like to get the old AM radio running.
>
> thanks in advance!
>
> Roy
>
You can use a packaged voltage regulator, like the LM7805 series.
Mounted on a heat sink, or even the back of the radio chassis,
it will supply enough current. (Small circuit mod to produce
6V instead of 5V.) I've done this before.

You might even find components at Radio Shack. Requires a little
electronics experience...

Speedy Jim
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

only one thing to do.... just box it up and send it to me ; ) oh yeah it
will find its way into my dash - working or not.... so you wouldnt be
getting it back. BTW - is it a correct 1966 radio with all the right
chrome and knobs?... just askin ... just in case you "did" want to get rid
of it : ) mine has a non-working 12 volt 1968 am radio in at the present
time

************************************************** **************
dragenwagen
1966 Type I - Daily Driver
1969 Type I - Undergoing heater channel replacement
http://www.ramva.org/dragenwagen
"Old VW's Don't Leak Oil, They Mark Their Territory."
************************************************** **************

"Roy" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi! I am the new owner of a '66 Beetle with the stock AM radio, which
> does not work at the momnent. The Beetle was converted to 12 volt and
> I assume the radio is 6. Is there a way to get the stock radio to
> work? Is there a voltage regulator or some such gizmo that I could
> wire up? Evenutally I'll be putting in a real stereo in the glove box,
> but I'd like to get the old AM radio running.
>
> thanks in advance!
>
> Roy
>

dragenwagen wrote:
> only one thing to do.... just box it up and send it to me ; ) oh
yeah it
> will find its way into my dash - working or not.... so you wouldnt
be
> getting it back.

Ha! Well, I'll seriously consider your generous offer!

And yes it's original. Sapphire III with gorgeous chrome knobs etc.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I am a total newbie with this bug,
so I am sure I will be back with more questions before long!

Roy

On 21 Jan 2005 11:47:19 -0800, "Roy" > wrote:

>Hi! I am the new owner of a '66 Beetle with the stock AM radio, which
>does not work at the momnent. The Beetle was converted to 12 volt and
>I assume the radio is 6. Is there a way to get the stock radio to
>work? Is there a voltage regulator or some such gizmo that I could
>wire up? Evenutally I'll be putting in a real stereo in the glove box,
>but I'd like to get the old AM radio running.
>
>thanks in advance!
>
>Roy
Saturday, January 22 2005, @ 8:51 AM (-0800 GMT)

Hi Roy,

The simplest thing to do, of course, is to just get a 12V Sapphire
from one of the fellows in this group.

However, converting your original 5V to 12V is not hard, but will take
a few measurements and some simple math.. <g>

You'll need an ammeter. You may already have one as part of a VOM
(volt-ohm-meter), or you can do the following. Take the old radio to a
battery shop; you don't need an antenna or speaker. Just ask the guy
to hook it up to a 6v battery and measure the current it draws. It
shouldn't be a lot, maybe 1 to 3 amps max.

Now, knowing the current draw on 6V, do the math. As an example, just
say your radio draws 2 amps, O.K.? It will also draw 2 amps from your
12V system, but 1/2 of the 12 volts you have need to be "dropped" in a
resistor you must add. To figure the size of the resistor, in ohms,
just divide the voltage you want to drop (6V) by the current the radio
draws (2A in this example). Therefore R = 6/2 = 3 ohms. Now you know
the "ohmage" you'll need. You next must determine how much power, in
watts, that this dropping resistor will dissipate. Calculate P(watts)
= volts times current, or P = 6 X 2 = 12 watts. For safetys sake,
DOUBLE the wattage needed to around 24 watts. Go to a Radio Shack
store, or some on-line parts house, and locate a 3 ohm WIREWOUND
resistor; a standard size will likely be 20 watts or 25 watts. Either
is fine. This type resistor should come with two small mounting
brackets; one will slip in to each end of the resistor (it looks like
a fat hollow tube, and is about the size of a 1/2 smoked small cigar).
If possible, use two sheet metal screws and mount this power resistor
on the very back of the chassis, but only if it will NOT be "pressed
against" anything when the radio is mounted in the dash. The resistor
will get fairly warm when the radio is "On" and you don't want it
touching anything flammable. Other than making sure it has
"ventilation space" around it, its perfectly safe and should last for
many years.

Like I said, the EASIEST thing to do is just buy a 12V radio. but,
buying a wirewound power resistor would be a lot cheaper.

I have a restored '67 Bug and replaced the original Sapphire IV AM
radio with a very hard to find Sapphire VI AM/FM radio. It cost me
$350 to buy it and get it working again and MY Bug is 12V, not 6. I
think, in your case, a resistor would cost about $4 or so.

Good luck, whatever you choose to do!

Jim
See my Bug and many fotos for sale at: www.classicvwbug4sale.info

P.S. If you do not like "sound effects," switch OFF your speakers
before visiting my web site. <g>

I just sold my '74 sb with the original radio, kid had put in a stereo cd and I
doubt the new owner will use the saphire.

Don't know if it'll help you but you're welcome to it. I bought a buggy thats
based on a 66 type III 6v. It has an am/fm stereo and I assmue at this point
it's 6v, everything else is. I'm changing it to 12v and the radio will be
coming out. You can have it if ya want it.

Peace,
<><
TC