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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / GPS Installation

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Discussion Topic: GPS Installation -- page: 1 2 3

Jim

03-05-2017 @ 12:42 PM

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I would like to install a GPS in my 1936 Ford, running on 12 volts with a negative ground. Does anyone know of a source available that makes a kit to accomplish this? Any tips of getting this installed would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

mrtexas

03-05-2017 @ 6:24 PM

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Plug the GPS into the cigar lighter which is 12v neg ground as you say. Use any GPS.

40 Coupe

03-06-2017 @ 4:52 AM

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Is you car 6V and the GPS 12V or is the car 12V?

This message was edited by 40 Coupe on 3-6-17 @ 4:54 AM

Grant

03-06-2017 @ 6:25 AM

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Excellent question from 40 Coupe.

If there is an easy way to run a 12 volt GPS unit in my 6 volt '36 Ford, I'd like very much to know what that would be.

Perhaps some kind of step-up voltage transformer which can reverse the ground?

Old Henry

03-06-2017 @ 6:49 AM

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An easy fix is to use a 6-12 volt inverter that boosts voltage and reverses polarity here: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Inverter-6v-Positive-Ground/dp/B004P9NX9C/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1488811645&sr=1-3&keywords=6-12+volt+inverter
That is an easy connection but puts out less amperage than a booster that I use here: https://www.amazon.com/Voltage-Booster-6-8v-to-12v/dp/B004P9IS3I?tag=viglink20872-20. But, the booster has to be connected directly to the battery to avoid the need to reverse polarity. That's what I did.

This message was edited by Old Henry on 3-6-17 @ 6:56 AM

trjford8

03-06-2017 @ 7:02 AM

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Go on e-Bay and you can buy GPS brackets that will stick on you windshield. GPS units are getting cheaper as almost all new cars have them as standard equipment. You should be able to buy a Garmin or other brand for about $100-150. Buy the units that have LMT(lifetime maps and travel) as you can update them via your computer for free. The non LMT units require you to buy additional software periodically to update the unit.

TomO

03-06-2017 @ 7:40 AM

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You can also use one of the new phone power packs or a jump starter with a usb port to charge the battery on long trips. My Garmin lasts about 4 hours on a fully charged battery.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXQCZAP/ref=sxr_pa_click_within_right_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2795410502&pf_rd_r=ZV1CZGDJ7ZEXPMAYB091&pd_rd_wg=ks1jV&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_w=nxEu8&pf_rd_i=12+v+jump+starter&pd_rd_r=D3N90TMD1GRKBX71RCC0&psc=1

Tom

Jim

03-06-2017 @ 10:31 AM

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The car is 12 volt negative ground. The battery pack sounds like a good solution. I'll take a look on the internet. Jim

len47merc

03-06-2017 @ 12:30 PM

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FWIW - I've had very good success and results with this:

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-RAVPower-External-16750mAh-Technology/dp/B00MQSMEEE/ref=sr_1_11?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1488831676&sr=1-11&keywords=cell+phone+battery+pack

I only use the GPS on my Samsung phone now anyway. Additionally on longer trips, which is the only time I might need a GPS, I'll typically get a AAA Triptik for the wife - she likes 'navigating' (read into that what you will) as well as finding points of interest along the way.

This battery pack has worked great for us.

Steve

carcrazy

03-06-2017 @ 2:45 PM

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When I recently took a long road trip in a 1953 Ford with original 6V positive ground electrical system, I used a Garmin GPS 12V unit that we already had by doing the following:
Used a 12V car battery which I already had set aside for another car project - fully charged before our trip
Bought a power outlet from NAPA - part no. 782-1635
Bought a battery box from Autozone - NOCO part no. HM300BK (for Group 24 battery)
Bought 2 rolls of 12 GA primary wire, one red and one green - used about 8 ft of each for hook-up
Used two alligator clips - soldered one to one end of each wire
The battery was placed in the battery box and placed on the floor behind the front passenger seat, the wires were run under the front seat and front floor mat up to the power outlet which was mounted under the instrument panel.
The total cost of this setup, excluding the cost of the Garmin unit and the 12V battery, was less than $40.

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