| Author |
Message |
peter (209.132.88.114)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 9:10 pm: | |
I am running the stock 4905 24 volt system: 1 hot for right turn, 1 hot for left turn, 1 hot for brakes, 1 hot for tail lights.
I plan to tow my VW Thing with my 4905. I need to set up some tow lights, I could run 3 lamps on each side: turn, tail, stop.
Any ideas?
BTW: what is a good source for 24v bulbs? |
Don KS/TX (205.187.92.30)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 - 10:50 pm: | |
I have used a "light bar" that sticks into the trailer hitch for several years, it works well. Twenty four volt light bulbs are made in sealed units by several manufacturers, I just use them in amber and red. The two element red serves for a tail and stop, the amber for turns, then mount in a rubber ring. I got about a bushel of them at some surplus store, might part with some if you have trouble finding them. |
Neil (152.163.201.213)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 9:36 am: | |
I have used this system for 7 years works great.
I bought sockets at parts store and removed the lights on the rear of tow car. Then drilled holes in the houseing to accept new sockets.Using 24V bulbs I then wired direct to bus using my 24V system. Do not disturb car sockets. In my Bronco II there is room for the new ones, I don't know about the Thing.
This way there is no connection with car system at all. I put a plug on mine under the bumper so I have a clean look when the car is not hooked to bus. Neil |
ktrout01 (207.190.253.82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 10:11 am: | |
What are you using for a towbar ? I have a '73 Thing that I'm planning on using for a toad. I plan on towing it with the top and windshield folded and covering the entire vehicle with a car cover to keep the DD 8V71 oil streaks to a minimum. |
Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (216.67.218.211)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 11:28 am: | |
There are various ways to power 12 volt towed lights with 24 volts.
One I am going to try is going to involve maybe a bit more wire than others but has one big benefit, letting you know if the light is working at the rear of the towed. Because if either of the bulb fails, the one insight of the driver will not light.
If you make up a set of slave bulbs on some sort of strip and use a 12 volt bulb IN SERIES in the wire to the towed wiring connector, and position it in sight of the driver. Maybe behind a panel with holes and colored lenses for example. The second bulb being in series, will allow the use of 24 volts to power both 12 volt bulbs and have the added benefit of telling you if the light on the towed is or is not working.
I am not ready to try this just yet, so if any of our budding Busnuts wants to try it and perfect the system, let me know how it goes.
Email me direct if you want to discuss this further in more detail.
Peter. |
peter (209.242.148.130)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 12:24 pm: | |
ktrout01:
I have been using a front torsion axle attached tow bar to tow my bugs and the Thing for several years. This rig has 2 U shaped brackets that slip up onto the lower torsion beam and is fixed in place with a pin and a clip. MAKE SURE the clips can not come loose, use a tie wrap or safety wire so the clip is held fast. I lost one once, but it was on a city street and I saw the bug wandering in the mirror!
They are very common, sell for about $50, and can be found at most any VW aftermarket supply store. |
Peter (209.242.148.130)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 1:16 pm: | |
My Decision: I will use 2 standard automotive stop/turn – tail light lamps per side, mounted one above the other. I will wire all 4 tail lights as tail lights, top lamps will be stop, bottom lamps will be turn.
#1157 12 volt bulbs burn REAL bright on 24 volt, and I think they will probably cook in short order so I ordered some #1662 28 volt bulbs to fit the lamps. I ordered 6 from Top Bulb (www.topbulb.com), $7.50 each, total with 2 day UPS is $55.95. They were great on the phone, made a quick cross over for me, they are mucho great!
http://www.topbulb.com/find/Product_Description.asp?intProductID=41013
BTW: I make my light bars a few inches wider than the tow vehicle (this one will be 8’ 6”) so I can see the edge of my tow in the side view mirrors… it keeps my blood pressure down.
Thanks all for the help, good ideas all! Peter |
ktrout01 (207.190.253.82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 1:23 pm: | |
I have the same type of tow bar for mine. I'm building a light bar to use. I have a 1 1/4" receiver on the rear of the Thing for a bike rack (not for towing LOL). I want to build a light bar that plugs into the receiver hitch and replicates the lights on the bus. I'll build a wiring loom and install it in the tunnel and have a plug in the front apron somewhere. |
Peter (209.242.148.130)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 2:13 pm: | |
ktrout01:
I choose to mount my light bar higher for visibility, I think waist to chest high is best. I may also tow other rigs so my wires will be external and seperate from the Thing. |
ktrout01 (12.243.136.90)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 7:40 pm: | |
Mine will be about waist high. I'm copying the structure of the bike rack for the most part. My wife won't even consider towing her car so it's either my Jetta or the Thing. The Thing being my first choice because it's alot of fun to drive. |
MC - Iv (24.83.235.106)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 10:20 pm: | |
I used the system Peter was describing. My toad has removeable lights which I used when towing behind our motor home. So in order to tow it behind the bus, I added a second set of lights so all will be tail lights and the top set are signal and the bottom are brake. I simply changed the bulbs to 1662 and it works fine. FWIW I found the 1662's at a diesel truck parts dept. for $1.28 ea.(Can.) in a pkg. of ten.(approx.75cents U.S.)
Iv. |
Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (216.67.217.45)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 21, 2002 - 3:57 am: | |
Peter,
I don't see why two 12 volt bulbs should burn REAL bright on 24 volts if placed in series. Doesn't 2 x 12 = 24 ? Please explain your earlier statement. A lot of guys run 2 headlight units off 24 volt succesfully, so why not regular bulbs?
Peter. |
Jim (198.81.17.184)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 22, 2002 - 11:38 am: | |
Why not put in 24v relays that are activated from it's source, turn, brake, and tail. Bring in 12v from wherever, house battery is always a good spot. Then when the relay is activated the contacts close sending 12v to the trailer plug. Also put a trailer light converter in after the relays, and now you will have a standard 4 wireplug (round or flat) and the bus can now tow any tailer without electric brakes. Done this on many buses, works trouble free.
If you want more info let me know and I'll shot you off a schematic. |