6V to 12V Converter

Author	Views	Views Today	Rank	Comments
	212,148	145		110

This inverter circuit can provide up to 800mA of 12V power from a 6V supply. For example, you could run 12V car accessories in a 6V (British?) car. The circuit is simple, about 75% efficient and quite useful. By changing just a few components, you can also modify it for different voltages.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
R1, R4	2	2.2K 1/4W Resistor
R2, R3	2	4.7K 1/4W Resistor
R5	1	1K 1/4W Resistor
R6	1	1.5K 1/4W Resistor
R7	1	33K 1/4W Resistor
R8	1	10K 1/4W Resistor
C1,C2	2	0.1uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
C3	1	470uF 25V Electrolytic Capcitor
D1	1	1N914 Diode
D2	1	1N4004 Diode
D3	1	12V 400mW Zener Diode
Q1, Q2, Q4	3	BC547 NPN Transistor
Q3	1	BD679 NPN Transistor
L1	1	See Notes
MISC	1	Heatsink For Q3, Binding Posts (For Input/Output), Wire, Board

Notes

L1 is a custom inductor wound with about 80 turns of 0.5mm magnet wire around a toroidal core with a 40mm outside diameter.

Different values of D3 can be used to get different output voltages from about 0.6V to around 30V. Note that at higher voltages the circuit might not perform as well and may not produce as much current. You may also need to use a larger C3 for higher voltages and/or higher currents.

You can use a larger value for C3 to provide better filtering.

The circuit will require about 2A from the 6V supply to provide the full 800mA at 12V.

Related Circuits

Comments

Add A Comment

william 6V to 12V Converter Friday, June 25, 2010 10:40:32 PM

Hello everyone I wanted to know if this scheme works because I put it in and throw me out scooter 6 volts alternating and I Servino 12 volts to charge a 12 volt battery always and some neon

Angelo 6V to 12V Converter Friday, June 18, 2010 10:39:41 PM

Hi i am just 12 years old and i made it work. But this circuit doesent seem to be efficient it only charges the capacitor with the 12 V inverted voltage. So this project lackks of amps. This is useful to low power 12 V appliances.

anonymous L1 info? Friday, June 11, 2010 7:10:39 PM

Hey could you give me a little more info on L1, such as actual inductance or what core you used?

Mr.HornY 6V to 12V Converter Monday, November 23, 2009 10:54:15 AM

Thanks for your stupid circuit, Iv got some problem with reading this... 1- Any punctual value for darned L1? 2- Why you didn't connect ground together?

wizard 6V to 12V Converter Sunday, August 30, 2009 2:13:38 PM

hello. i am trying to understand how things working.. you said that the circuit will require about 2A from the 6V supply to provide the full 800mA at 12V... if you use smaller amperage from 2A like 100mA and convert the current within the circuit, you cant get 800mA at 12V? i am looking forward for your reply Thank you

Newton Brawn 6V to 12V Converter Monday, August 17, 2009 1:21:29 PM

It is Working! And the load is 988mA! COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE THE ALL DIMENSIONS OF FERRITE CORE ?? regards

danan 6V to 12V Converter Tuesday, August 04, 2009 2:45:51 AM

how to make the coil L1 please give to me the clue

Daniël 6V to 12V Converter Monday, July 27, 2009 9:42:36 AM

I build it and the results are very good, I used the centerring of an old car-amplifier to make the coil and put 80 turns of 0.8mm D3 became 15V and the output is 15-16V with an input from 7.5-15V It gives al little noise ... it works very good with only a few comonents. current is 0.75A

Luca 5V to 12V Converter Friday, July 24, 2009 4:37:04 AM

Hello everyone, Let me know that I have to perform changes to your model, to build a converter from 5V to 12V. why would I need to take power from usb port of the laptop and maintenance of an antenna that operates at 12V and consumes only 6W. Could you help? Thanks in advance. Luke.

Bones 6V to 12V Converter Monday, June 29, 2009 5:43:10 PM

Is there any way to reverse this circuit? to convert from 12V to 6V? i've been checking out voltage stabilizer circuits and i found a few good ones but i have no idea what ratings too look for in resistors and diodes etc. any help would be highly appreciated. thanks,

The last 10 comments are currently shown. Show All Comments. Add A Comment

If you would like to leave a comment, you can do so using the form below. Comments can be things like suggestions, successes or failures, improvements, similar circuits, error reports, an answer to a previous commenter's question, or anything in between. However if you would like to ask a question it is suggested that you use the forum instead. The forum provides a more robust environment for discussion.

Important: If you post a technical question here, there is no guarantee it will be answered. All technical questions should be posted to the forum. The owner of this site generally does not answer questions in comments.

All comments are subject to approval before they are displayed here, so your comment will not appear immediately. This is done mainly to prevent spam and other abuse. If you wish to remain anonymous, simply enter "anonymous" for your name and/or email.

Name:
Email:
Subject:
Comments:
Anti Spam Code:	Please enter the exact text shown in the image above into the box below. Browser cookies must be enabled to comment on circuits.

Privacy Policy

william	6V to 12V Converter	Friday, June 25, 2010 10:40:32 PM
Hello everyone I wanted to know if this scheme works because I put it in and throw me out scooter 6 volts alternating and I Servino 12 volts to charge a 12 volt battery always and some neon
Angelo	6V to 12V Converter	Friday, June 18, 2010 10:39:41 PM
Hi i am just 12 years old and i made it work. But this circuit doesent seem to be efficient it only charges the capacitor with the 12 V inverted voltage. So this project lackks of amps. This is useful to low power 12 V appliances.
anonymous	L1 info?	Friday, June 11, 2010 7:10:39 PM
Hey could you give me a little more info on L1, such as actual inductance or what core you used?
Mr.HornY	6V to 12V Converter	Monday, November 23, 2009 10:54:15 AM
Thanks for your stupid circuit, Iv got some problem with reading this... 1- Any punctual value for darned L1? 2- Why you didn't connect ground together?
wizard	6V to 12V Converter	Sunday, August 30, 2009 2:13:38 PM
hello. i am trying to understand how things working.. you said that the circuit will require about 2A from the 6V supply to provide the full 800mA at 12V... if you use smaller amperage from 2A like 100mA and convert the current within the circuit, you cant get 800mA at 12V? i am looking forward for your reply Thank you
Newton Brawn	6V to 12V Converter	Monday, August 17, 2009 1:21:29 PM
It is Working! And the load is 988mA! COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE THE ALL DIMENSIONS OF FERRITE CORE ?? regards
danan	6V to 12V Converter	Tuesday, August 04, 2009 2:45:51 AM
how to make the coil L1 please give to me the clue
Daniël	6V to 12V Converter	Monday, July 27, 2009 9:42:36 AM
I build it and the results are very good, I used the centerring of an old car-amplifier to make the coil and put 80 turns of 0.8mm D3 became 15V and the output is 15-16V with an input from 7.5-15V It gives al little noise ... it works very good with only a few comonents. current is 0.75A
Luca	5V to 12V Converter	Friday, July 24, 2009 4:37:04 AM
Hello everyone, Let me know that I have to perform changes to your model, to build a converter from 5V to 12V. why would I need to take power from usb port of the laptop and maintenance of an antenna that operates at 12V and consumes only 6W. Could you help? Thanks in advance. Luke.
Bones	6V to 12V Converter	Monday, June 29, 2009 5:43:10 PM
Is there any way to reverse this circuit? to convert from 12V to 6V? i've been checking out voltage stabilizer circuits and i found a few good ones but i have no idea what ratings too look for in resistors and diodes etc. any help would be highly appreciated. thanks,