| Author | Message | ||
| jjrsmp12 Rating: N/A |
I'm having an issue wiring my toad up to my Eagle 10. I have the 5-4 wire converter which takes the separate turn signals and brakes and combines them. I can get the turn signals and tailight to work, but no brakes. I checked the input of 12V at the bus brake light wire, but I do not see anything on the turn signal wires on the output of the converter. Any suggestions? | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
know what you are talking about...my Eagle same way...turn signals are on a different circut than brake lights...I haven't figured it out yet...when I installed all those l.e.d.'s on my turn signals....I "THOUGHT" that they would come on when you stepped on the brake....they don't | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
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I'm having a problem finding someone in this town to wire up my Bus to tow my Blazer down to the lower 48 on a Uhaul trailer...What gives? Is it that difficult to figure out? I'm learning that Buses seem to basically baffle everyone. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A |
jjrsmp, TD, I used one of these converters for years on my Eagle. Basicly the same as wiring up an american car being towed by a Japanese truck. Double check that you have the correct converter. Sean, You need the same type converter. Should be able to get an any auto parts store. Richard | ||
| jjrsmp12 Rating: N/A |
I got so pissed off trying 2 converters thinking 1 was bad that I just ran a 5th wire to the rear of my toad and installed a separate bulb for brakes only. So now I have a bulb on the toad on each side for turn signal and tailight(2 filament bulb), and a separate bulb each side for brakes only(2 filament). It should be nice and bright having a dedicated brake bulb using both filaments of the bulb. I'll get a 6wire plug in case I add an extr wire down the road. I only needed to drill 2 holes in each tailight assembly. Not bad.. | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A |
All you gotta do is go to radio shack and get four 5 amp 50volt (or higher) diodes and make it yourself. Radio shack's part number is 276-1661 and they come four to a pack for $2.50 It's super simple. Here's a diagram... http://www.heartmagic.com/converter.jpg Mine's been working fine for years this way... cheers | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Rating: N/A |
Looking at the schematic, I have a question. Does the turn signal work when the brakes are on? Sort of looks like a wired-or configuration that would not blink when the turn signal and brakes are on at the same time. I am probably missing something... Craig | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A |
Rightieo, it would not. On my bus it doesn't matter, because the basic reason of it having turn signal circuits AND brake circuits is that there are separate turn signal lamps on the bus already. So for the trailer, it wouldn't work quite correctly. in my case since the bus can be seen with the trailer connected, I don't see it as a bad thing, at least for me. But it's the only way to convert 5 wire to 3 wire without using transistors, relays or logic of some sort. I wanted to keep it simple, and I don't see myself hanging on the brakes long enough to make that difference anyway. Look at the URL again tomorrow, I'll redo it with more complicated electronics that will make 5 wire into 4 wire and should fix what you pointed out. This will require more advanced electronics, batteries and skill not included... I'd draw up a schematic tonight but right now I'm pretty high ...just got back from the doctor who fixed a nasty foot problem I've had for a week with some amazingly weird shots in me' ars... strange place to have my head in tonight...probably not thinking correctly... definitely not in shape to drive safely...but at least I can walk again for the first time in 4 days!! Sometimes being old enough to be a busnut sucks!!  | ||
| Sean Welsh (Sean)
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As long as we're posting schematics, below is a link to a circuit using relays. This circuit has the advantage of also being able to convert 24-volt lamp signals into 12 volt output for the trailer. For a straight 12-volt application, it's not as elegant as Gary's. http://odyssey.smugmug.com/gallery/131040 -Sean | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
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Ok, this is what I (and you) get from a retired old electronics engineer fart that can't sleep due to meds given by doctors to fix a foot problem. Fortunately for us all, it's only for one night.. Check the URL again, it's all there now... Oh heavens, what did I just do to the brake light converter industry!! http://www.heartmagic.com/converter.jpg All three versions are actually very simple and cheap, and will work. have fun soldering...! | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
Rating: N/A |
If you can't read the text (The whole thing is a jpg image) there is a much bigger one here, but it's a lot bigger than a monitor screen so you'll have to scroll around... http://www.heartmagic.com/converterBig.jpg Now that I've done all this silliness in the wee hours, I'm gonna go redo my bus to the IC version! hee hee, thanks for reminding me Craig!! Cheers | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Rating: N/A |
I don't understand these schematics and don't want to do it myself..I need to know the EXACT part I need to get from the auto parts store because the hitch people are clueless...What is it called? Thanks. | ||
| Sean Welsh (Sean)
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Sean, Please take this the right way -- no disrespect is intended. If you can't understand electrical schematics, then giving you an exact part number (assuming we could) will be of little help, since that part will also come with a schematic that you will need to understand in order to install it. I recommend you seek professional assistance. If the hitch store you are talking to does not understand this and can't help you, I suggest you go someplace else, because, even if you brought them a part, it's unlikely they understand enough to install it correctly. To be honest, many automotive shops do not understand buses. So you may well have to go to either a bus shop, or an RV shop. For example, Camping World works on many bus conversions and would easily know how to wire a converter for your bus. They also carry the converters, as well as all the wire, connectors, and hitch parts. (I'm guessing, from your first post, that you are outside of CONUS so Camping World, specifically, is probably not one of your choices.) Lastly, what type of converter you need depends on the specifics of your bus (e.g. 24-volt vs. 12-volt), which you have not provided (at least, in this thread). If you're really stuck, and there's no one in your area who can help, give us some specifics and we can try to point you in the right direction, but understand that you'll need to learn something about the subject, even though you said that's not what you want to do. -Sean | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Rating: N/A |
Sean, I'm in Anchorage Alaska and it's a barren wasteland up here as far as anyone understanding anything about buses. It's been an enormous challenge trying to get my bus fixed and ready for my move to TN. I've been stressed to the limit over this and can't wait to get to a place where I have access to shops that understand my bus. I will take your advice and try the bug RV dealership shop up here. If anyone will be able to wire the bus, they will be. My bus is an MCI MC5C and it's all 24 volt which basically seems to just baffle everyone I have talked to about wiring my hitch. I have no desire to wire up my hitch myself or learn about schematics but I expect so called professionals to know how to do it and will gladly pay for it. I know so many technical things about subjects most people have no idea about that I have my hands full... My advice if you are coming to Alaska you had better know everything about your own bus because NO ONE KNOWS ANYTHING UP HERE...My bus has been in the shop for 6 weeks!!!..Thats another story. | ||
| Sean Welsh (Sean)
Rating: N/A |
Sean, I suspect it is the fact that your bus is 24volt that has the hitch people baffled. It is unlikely that you will find an off-the-shelf converter locally that can do what you want (convert 24 volt separate tail lights to 12 volt combined outputs). However, the schematic I posted earlier will work for what you need, and requires only four relays. The problem is, they need to be 24vdc relays, and even those might be scarce where you are. Feel free to print out the schematic and take it with you to the shops. After clicking the link, click on the schematic itself, then select "original size" in the pop-up window to get the best view. Then print it in "landscape" mode -- it should take up exactly one printed page. Anybody who does bus wiring ought to be able to follow it and give you what you need. As for finding the relays -- a shop that normally works on MCI buses ought to have some 24 volt relays in stock. If not, drop me a line and I will send you some sources. -Sean | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
A couple of masgnetic lights or really any kind of double filament automotive light that you can fasten on the back of your car will do. Running wires up to the hitch point and connecting into the tail light and brake light wires will do, if you put 24 volt bulbs in the lights. Your signal lights will still be visible on the back of the bus and you will have the important tail and brake lights on the car. | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat)
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Sean M, in this light (no pun intended) Why not consider just adding some more wires and lights to your trailer to exactly duplicate the lights in your bus, one-for-one. Either use a trailer connector that has more pins or use 2 or 3 connectors to get what you need to work. Then it's a no-brainer... one wire from each light on your bus to the duplicate light on your trailer. No converters, no schematics, no difficulty... | ||
| Tom Hamrick (Tomhamrick)
Rating: N/A |
You should be able to find a Brite-Lite 3 to 2 convertor at many auto parts stores. I have made a light bar for my toad because I do not want to take a chance of backfeeding into the electronics. Even if properly wired that can happen. On my light bar I have four trailer lights, two per side. All four lights will work for tail lights, one light one each side is wired for brake lights and the other is wired for turn signals. The wiring harness runs underneath the car from the tow bar to the light bar. It works for me. Tom Hamrick 1984 Eagle 10S 2004 Honda Pilot toad | ||
| jjrsmp12 Rating: N/A |
I ended up getting a 6-wire flex-coil wire with connectors. I ran a separate line for the brakes to a dedicated 2filament bulb on each side for brakes, and another buld is for turn and tailight. Works awesome. Bright brake lights. Of course, I had lots of room in my tailight assembly... |