| Author | Message | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Rating: N/A |
I've been searching and searching and I know this has been talked about on here but I can't find the answer. I need to wore my MC5C up to be able to pull my Blazer and the bus is 24V as we all know and i need a circuit to take it and interface with the 12 volt on the blazer for lights and blinkers...I need either a piece i can buy and have it shipped to me or a complete wiring harness that i can just hook up. Anyone know where I can get what i need? Cant' find it anywhere up here. Thanks!s | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
The magnetic lights that just stick on the roof work esp well if you have a variety to tow. Simply install 24v bulbs and "Away You Go!" KISS! FAST FRED | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
It's easist to simply wire the original tow vehicle rear lights with extra bulb sockets. The kit's available here: http://www.aemfg.com/Accessories/wiring.html Put 24v bulbs in and awaaaay we go. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
(Their hitch mounted one does look good, though) | ||
| doctor al Rating: N/A |
where does one find a 24v bulb that fits an old 1157 slot? | ||
| Jtng Rating: N/A |
All bayonet types of the same size are the same fit. | ||
| doctor al Rating: N/A |
part number ? | ||
| dug Rating: N/A |
Sean, I used relays with a 24V coil. When brake/turn/tail is applied, the coil is activated, and 12 volts are passed to the tow vehicle. I also used a "hoppy" tail light converter, to combine the brake/turn signal lights. You'll need to do this if your tow vehicle has combined turn/brake lamps. I had to use double pole/double throw relays to accomplish this. When the coil is not activated, it supplies a ground to the tail light converter. The converter doesn't work if there is no ground present. I'm sure this is clear as mud, let me know if you have any questions. Dug 75 MC8 Arcadia, FL | ||
| bruce king
Rating: N/A |
I built one of these, and it works fine. http://www.gumpydog.com/bus/MC9_WIP/Electrical/Tail_Light_Converter/tail_light_converter.h tm Cost me around $100, took about 2 hours once I had the parts. Mounted the sockets on a piece of plexiglass I had around. its worked for 2-3 years now without problem. Many thanks to Craig Shepards' website, by the way. There's a lot of work there, and I have appreciated it all. | ||
| Luis (Sundancer)
Rating: N/A |
Sean check this out, works great, provided to us by Sean at his web site. I use the house battery 12 volts, just added a diode on the ground side so there is no feedback to the coach from the trailer. http://odyssey.smugmug.com/gallery/131040 | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A |
Another vote here for Sean's creative wiring for a towed vehicle or trailer with stop/directional lights in one bulb. If the towed vehicle has separate bulbs for each function, it can be changed to accomodate them by using one relay for each:tail, stop, left directional, right directional. No diode is needed since the trailer can't supply electricity. If you are judicious about unplugging before getting into the towed vehicle and possibly turning on lights, etc then the diode is still unnecessary. I can beat my wife to the plug before she gets to the key. Jim | ||
| doctor al Rating: N/A |
Fred. thanks for the marine tip. 24v bulbs and magnetic lights for me. And wife... thank you for finding me an online site. | ||
| Jack Gregg (Jackinkc)
Rating: N/A |
Here is a nice relay that will do the trick. This relay is DPDT but only use two of the switched connectors. Using automotive “squeeze on” connectors will make the wiring easier. | ||
| Chuck Lott (Chuckmc8)
Rating: N/A |
Doctor al,I have a card of the 24Volt version of the 1157 bulbs. I Couldn't by just the two that I needed. If intersted, I figure the cost of two and postage- Chuck | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Rating: N/A |
OMG i'm a dunce...  There aren't any wiring harnesses or circuits that are already built available to buy? I don't understand electronics wiring and will pay someone to make me one...Any takers? | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
""All bayonet types of the same size are the same fit."" True , but beware , the 12V bulbs are indexed to have the "bright " filament BACKWARDS from the 24V bulbs I have used. The magnetic lights are very easy to change the wiring on , as its usually pushed in place , not soldered. IF the bright filament comes on with the coach running lights , and the stop or blinkers are dim, switch the wires!! FAST FRED | ||
| Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
Rating: N/A |
I had trouble with a circuit board that belongs to the 24v to 12v. I had a neighbor repair the burnt out areas and I'm good to go. But....I called Marathon ( yes this is a Prevost, but it might work) and they had an updated system for the tow car voltage transfer system. I know it has a name, but I can't remember. They said if my repair doesn't work, they had the update and it would run about $1000 bucks. I think that was installed, not sure. I hope I don't need it or it will be cheaper to rent a car. | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Rating: N/A |
$1000.......OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna look into the magnetic lights with 24V bulbs..This stuff is a pain in the rear! | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
All bayonet bulb bases of the same diameter do not interchange. The two pins can be anywhere from being in the same plane to an offset of more than 1/4". Like many things in this world, they have to be made so that idiots can't do it wrong. | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Rating: N/A |
__. Here's my plan. My toad is (will be) a Jetta with a "five wire" system -- my bus is made in England and it's a "five wire" system, too. So, if I planned to use the Jetta's existing system, I wouldn't need a converter, just a simple diode box to stop feedback. __. But to avoid any possible problems, I plan to do it this way ... __. The feeds from the bus (tail, brake, r turn, l turn, and ground; plus a "hot") will go to a tow bar connector. From there, they'll go to a harness that's permanently installed in the vehicle, running from near the front bumper into the car and ending up with another connector hidden near the car's rear window. __. There will be a light and relay unit which will sit in the rear window of the car when in use. It will have two "three-light" units, each with a tail, brake and one turn signal. In the box, there will be four relays; one for each of the signals from the bus. __. When I hook up the car, I'll simply put the light box inside the rear window of the car (may rig up a system of velcro or "zip ties") and plug the two connectors in. __. This system is slightly away from the KISS priciple, but it has lots of advantages -- 1) All signal feeds from the bus are only fraction-of-an-amp relay loads, 2) The relay feeds can be protected on the bus by small fuses, the "power" feed can be protected by a suitably sized fuze, 3) No wires hanging on (and scratching) the car or getting snagged when moving, etc., 4) Minimal impact on the car (no electrical tie-ins to the cars system, no heat from toad signals in the existing car system, etc.) thus no chance of damage to the car -- the only parts of the system permanently installed in the car will be the harness which will be unhooked and not "live" when not in use -- even the ground circuit will be insulated from the car, 5) Lights will be inside the car in use, protected from damage such as getting knocked off or being damaged by road water, dirt or winter salt. 6) When the toad isn't being towed, all the system pops out in a matter of seconds and can be safely stored in the bus or home garage. __. It would even be easy to add a "CAR IN TOW" placard, also visible through the rear window, to the relay unit between the lights. __. Whaddayathinkhuh???? | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
Sean- Let me add this..... You can wire 12v bulbs into the harness to be used in series with the 12v bulbs you want to illuminate in the tow vehicle. The 24v from the bus will illuminate both 12v bulbs in series just as 12v will illuminate one 12v bulb. It can be a fancy configuration, or a simple doctoring, but it will allow you to use the 24 volts without any further massive engineering to safely light the 12v ones. If you design the added bulbs to the harness to be seen in your mirror, you'll have a way to know if your towed vehicle's lights are working. Simple? | ||
| Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
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Bruce.... The wiring seems to be okay, but... What in Gods name am I supposed to do when I see a sign placard that says "CAR IN TOW "? I supposr about the same thing I'm supposed to do when I see "BABY ON BOARD " OR " CAUTION HORSES ". Am I supposed to drive more carefully. slow down, or what. Please tell me, I'm going crazy thinking about it. I just wonder how many times I've seen those signs and haven't done the right thing, whatever that is. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
Uhmmm When you see the sign and not the car, you're supposed to alert the driver. | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Rating: N/A |
__. What do you do when you see a "CAR IN TOW" sign???? How about sending Stan $20 for the "wee-wee fan in the wind" fund????? |