| Author |
Message |
jim blackwill
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 8:27 am: | |
I would like to run trailer with 12v. Need to know how to hook up relays and were to get relays. on mci |
Tim James
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 8:36 am: | |
Here's a link for relays...$3.50 a piece.
http://www.ronthebusnut.com/detailDisp_75025.html
Very simple to hook up. Just look at the diagram on the relay. You'll need to provide a 12v source to be switched, and the 24v does the switching. This will be run from the tail, stop turn wires to each relay. If your trailer uses a common stop/turn and your bus uses seperate stop/turn, you'll need to get a conversion box for this. These are readily available, probably at WalMart even. This would be inserted after it's all 12v. Hope this helps. |
Luis (Sundancer)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 12:58 pm: | |
Try this site. I wired this up and it worked for me. Good luck.
Luis
http://odyssey.smugmug.com/gallery/131040 |
Butch Williams
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 7:21 pm: | |
I did this on my MC9 using the diagram in George Myers book.
While I was at it, I added a charging wire for the trailer battery and electric brake controls for any 12 volt trailer brake.
If you have questions, e-mail me direct and I'll help you through it, it's not complicated and is even rather easy if you have ready access to the components on your coach.
Butch |
Kevin Hatch
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 7:49 pm: | |
Could a guy just change the trailer lamps to 24v? When I start pulling a trailer, it'll be the only trailer we pull with the bus. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 8:26 pm: | |
Kevin -
Naww, that's not the way a true busnut would ever do it, Kevin.
(Jeeez, what were you thinkin'?)
Seriously, tho... If you had to tow that trailer with any other
vehicle (bus breakdown, etc), you won't have very bright
lights on it...
That relay setup is ideal if you have a good 12v wire to the rear
of the bus, and if you don't mind wiring up a bunch of relays.
It'd be handy to have 12v at the jack, in case you ever need
to tow other than that one trailer.
Wiring up the bus (tow) jack with a 12v bulb in series with
the circuit feeding what needs the 12v, is the easiest fix...
It can be done neatly... and if done in a way that the driver
can see the lights, he'll know if/when they aren't working.
But hey. |
Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 9:00 pm: | |
Jim and Kevin, changing to 24V lamps is the easy way to do it. I know several people that do it that way.
If you ever need to tow with another vehicle change back to 12 V bulbs.
Simplicity eliminates components susceptible to failure.
Ed |
Bill K
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 10:24 pm: | |
I used the 24V relays, with a 12v source and while I was at it I change my tail light to 12 v using the same set up. the 24V bulbs are exp. and hard to find. I had alread changed my tail light set up to a newer RV style and was using 24v bulbs, had to grind the tits off the bulb to make them work . now 12 volt no problem. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 6:12 am: | |
Changing the bulbs is fast & cheap but there is one slight hassle.
For some reason the 24V bulbs have the filiments "backwards " compared to the bulb pins.
Really simple to swop the wires in the light housing.
Otherwise the bright turn, stop filament will be on for run ect.
KISS!
FAST FRED |
Tim Strommen (Tim_strommen)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 6:05 pm: | |
If they are standard shape fixtures (6x2" oval or 4" round) several companies have dual voltage lamps (internally regulated) whic would not require any special steps after installation. The catch is that the running lights on the trailer (if so equiped) are not usually available with 12/24VDC inputs.
The lights I'm using on my bus (so that I can use the existing 12v circuits and migrate to a single voltage later) are produced by A.L. Lightech, and I pruchased them locally at "The Light House, Inc." (no affiliation or profit made from refference).
They are nice to work with. They're also a good source for 24Volt Halogen bulbs from H1-4.
Cheers!
-Tim |
bill chisholm (Billybandman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 12:20 pm: | |
I just put a 12v bulb in series on the line to each output line to the trailer, has worked great for 14 years |
Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 16, 2006 - 10:19 pm: | |
I have had some problems with the 12 to 24 printed circuit board and had a friend fix it. I presently cannot get my brake lights to work on the tow and a couple of retired electrical engineers are working up a relay box to install and solve all of my worries.
I might share this thingie with you guys if it works out and I come up with the cost when it is born this week. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 12:05 am: | |
Bill -
Sometimes the easy way just doesn't hack it, with the higher echelon..
Oh well, ehh? |
Jon W.
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 5:10 pm: | |
Lew, At the risk of offending electrical guys I used a series of relays on my old coach. I'm sure the printed circuit boards are fine when things work, but I ended up using a set of relays (1 for parking lights, 1 for LH signal, 1 for RH signal and 1 for brake), all with 24 volt coils powered off the wires going to the respective lights on the bus.
The 12 volt power taken from the junction box in the back just passed through the contacts to the tow vehicle plug.
It was simple and if a relay failed I just pulled the bad one out and replaced it with another. |
Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 9:48 pm: | |
Jon They finished it today and will install it tomorrow. I believe they did the same thing but what do I know about it. I have a lot of confidence in these 2 guys and none in myself when it comes to that stuff.
I'd like to install 12v marker lites and reduce my power there to 12v but I hesitate to ask these guys that or they'll think I am off my rocker.
If you come back with the easy solution, explain it to me easily or I'll not pick it up. |
Jon W.
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 9:53 pm: | |
Lew,
I'm not sure what you gain by going to 12v marker lites. Where you might gain is by going to LEDs because they last a long time, and they are available in 24V. They ain't cheap, but we know two guys with a lot of money that are trying them. |