How about a "flasher" unit that will make the lights come on one at a time and cascade around the trailer. Flashing is easy, but what is really impressive is the cascading light display. Any ideas?
Hi, start by rewiring the whole trailer with separate wires for each light. Next part, I don't have an answer for.
First...Robert...welcome to the forum and thanks for asking this rousing question! Got lots of responses... Glad you asked, as I was wondering how to make the running lights shine while we were camped...I think that would be really cool. Now if I don't electricute myself or fry something in the Bambi... Glad you ahve joined up with us! It's a great group...
Quote:
Originally Posted by moosetags
We put our running lights on all the time at campgrounds. Clancyboy showed me how to do it.
Buy a small fused 14 gauge wire in the auto department at Wal-Mart for about 2 bucks. Put a 20 amp fuse in it. Crimp a couple of flat connectors to the wire ends. put the two connectors in the #1 and #7 contacts (those are the ones on either side of the key lug) in the Airstream's electric connector cord. All the running lights will come on and stay on until you pull the wire out. As long as you're hooked up to AC power, the converter will provide the juice. I usually leave them on all evening and have never had a problem.
Second...Thanks, Moosetags for detailing how to do this... Does there happen to be a "store-bought" gizmo to do this? I'm a bit of an electrical chicken...ever since I stuck scissors into an electric outlet as a kid. Talk about running lights glowing!
How about a "flasher" unit that will make the lights come on one at a time and cascade around the trailer. Flashing is easy, but what is really impressive is the cascading light display. Any ideas?
Nice idea, but since these lights are wired in series, you would have to access the wire to each light and connect them to an electronic sequencer. If you're re-wiring a vintage unit, keep this in mind as a fun project!
Nice idea, but since these lights are wired in series, you would have to access the wire to each light and connect them to an electronic sequencer. If you're re-wiring a vintage unit, keep this in mind as a fun project!
They are really wired in parallel, two 6v batteries wired to make 12v would be series.
What would be really cool, at least for a while, is to wire the lights to the sequencer so they would flash in time to the radio. I thought I was really cool when I wired my car radio and running lights this way, until it did its own little version of three mile island. Ccircuit protection is a must.
BTW, for some reason, wiring the lights to operate in the campsite is called "Canadian Christmas Lights" around here, not sure exactly why...
Hi, start by rewiring the whole trailer with separate wires for each light. Next part, I don't have an answer for.
You could put an addressable module switch in the base of each light then address each light. You could control the lights with a laptop, embedded chip, or a million other ways. This would save the rewiring and only cost you a few hundred to a few grand.But you would not have to rewire.
Look at your 7 pin connector on your trailer. Hold it so that the outside rim "key" (the little bump that keeps it aligned in the socket) is up - it's the two sockets on either side of the key. The left one will be power the right one is the lights. Use a FUSED connector, they are cheap - I don't even crimp a connector to the bare wires - seems to hold well - just shove it in there. There may be a spark - you will jump every time - I do.
I want to make a gizmo like above with a flasher unit inside - can you post some parts lists and wire runs for us all??
10a or 20a - in either case they will blow fast if there is a dead short. I use the yellow 20 amp fuse - I had to buy a box one time and that was the package size that Wally World had. I checked mine and on my trailer the light circuit is protected by a 20 amp fuse, so one or the other will pop if you accidentally touch the power to ground.
You could put an addressable module switch in the base of each light then address each light. You could control the lights with a laptop, embedded chip, or a million other ways. This would save the rewiring and only cost you a few hundred to a few grand.But you would not have to rewire.
Seems like the right answer and might not be that expensive. Using l.e.d. lights would reduce the current switching and you could have just about any pattern you wanted. Also, a simple timer circuit at each light, each one with a progressively longer base would give sequential lights, although the intervals might "drift" over time, but that might not be bad either. Definitely an amateur electronics project.
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Seems like the right answer and might not be that expensive. Using l.e.d. lights would reduce the current switching and you could have just about any pattern you wanted. Also, a simple timer circuit at each light, each one with a progressively longer base would give sequential lights, although the intervals might "drift" over time, but that might not be bad either. Definitely an amateur electronics project.
Now you guys have gone and done it - I'm thinking about a winter project - gotta have flashing lights at the Can Opener.........
Now you guys have gone and done it - I'm thinking about a winter project - gotta have flashing lights at the Can Opener.........
I'm so dense, I'll do good to cram a 20 amp fuse in the umbilical without blowing up the Airstream in the driveway much less get it to work at the Can Opener!
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Hi, start by rewiring the whole trailer with separate wires for each light. Next part, I don't have an answer for.
. Ccircuit protection is a must.
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