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rvivrette · 09-04-2007, 01:35 PM

On occasion, I have seen Airstreams with their running lights blinking while in a showroom... Upon closer examination, they have a blinker module plugged directly into the electric hookup that would normally go to the to the tow vehicle. Now... my simple brain tells me that if you were parked in a campground and wanted to put your running lights on just for "ambience", you should be able to cross-connect a couple pins in that connector. Has anybody done this? Any dangers that should be considered?

Thanks!

- Robert

rickandsandi · 09-04-2007, 01:37 PM

Robert-

Welcome to the forum! Use your search function above and you will find two great long threads on this subject.

Again welcome aboard!

Jim Clark · 09-04-2007, 01:40 PM

Yes, paperclip comes to mind. A standard blinker switch will work to make it blink, the pins are about the correct distance apart.

Condoluminum · 09-04-2007, 01:41 PM

We made up gizmo to do this using connector from auto parts place with jumper wire (2") and two blade connectors. Trailer umbilical plugs into modified receptacle, and lights come on.. It can also be done with turn signal flasher, and jumper wires with blade connectors..

rickandsandi · 09-04-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Clark

Yes, paperclip comes to mind. A standard blinker switch will work to make it blink, the pins are about the correct distance apart.

Use a fused line! A paperclip will either get very warm or blow a main-line fuse.

rvivrette · 09-04-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickandsandi

Robert-

Welcome to the forum! Use your search function above and you will find two great long threads on this subject.

Again welcome aboard!

Thanks!... I did use the search feature, but it generated way too many false hits. Gave up after an hour of searching and figured it may not have been discussed yet. Can you help point me to the right spot? From the other responses I have already received (quick!) it looks like it is doable... Just need the specific pins to connect across.. hopefully this is covered in the threads you mentioned. Thanks!

- Robert

Bambi_Bandit · 09-04-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvivrette

Thanks!... I did use the search feature, but it generated way too many false hits. Gave up after an hour of searching and figured it may not have been discussed yet. Can you help point me to the right spot? From the other responses I have already received (quick!) it looks like it is doable... Just need the specific pins to connect across.. hopefully this is covered in the threads you mentioned. Thanks!

- Robert

Use an automotive blade fuse (10A is what I used to use I think) and plug it into the 7 wire cord, shorting the 12V and clearance lights together. They are right next to each other, and the blade fuse fits almost perfectly, even on the curve.

That's what I used to do, but now I have a switch in the inside of my unit to turn them off and on as I wish...

Jim Clark · 09-04-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickandsandi

Use a fused line! A paperclip will either get very warm or blow a main-line fuse.

Mine has done neither, but I like living on the edge.

rickandsandi · 09-04-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bambi_Bandit

Use an automotive blade fuse (10A is what I used to use I think) and plug it into the 7 wire cord, shorting the 12V and clearance lights together. They are right next to each other, and the blade fuse fits almost perfectly, even on the curve.

That's what we do, I also picked up a heavy duty blinker at a truck stop and it fits perfectly onto the plug so we can make our lights flash. Great for letting Sara know it's time to come in!

Minnie's Mate · 09-04-2007, 03:00 PM

Way cool. I have seen a battery pack thingie that cost about $50 that you plug your umbilical cord into to run your tail lights and running lights on if you have to abandon your trailer on the roadside at night and just assumed that's what people were using to do this. I'll have to get an extra 10 amp fuse and try this next time we are sitting around the camp site. Would never leave it while asleep, though. I don't trust something like that unattended.

Excella CM · 09-04-2007, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excella CM

We use the big E for camping and I like to leave the running lights on at night so I can find it in the dark. Also, I like to be able to leave the running lights on when the TV connected, but without leaving the TV's lights on. My solution was to buy another female connector and wire it to an old rotary automotive heater fan switch. I slipped the connector into one end of a piece of PCV pipe and put the switch into the other. I wired the switch to put power onto the tail light/running light circuit, the left, and the right brake/turn circuit. Now I can plug this gizmo into the trailer and test the lights without having the TV nearby.

It is convenient enough that I wonder why there isn't a commercial product like it.

I posted a picture but it seems to be gone. You could easily add a blinker to flash the lights too. Look at these posts: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f37/...oked-5135.html

Excella CM · 09-04-2007, 08:28 PM

Here are some views of the unit I made to manually control the lights on the the Excella

**moosetags** · 09-04-2007, 08:59 PM

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. It wouldn't be a problem to add a 12 volt flasher unit into the circuit. I don't know how much your neighbors would appreciate flashing lights, though.

tinhutjohn · 09-04-2007, 09:25 PM

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?

ROBERTSUNRUS · 09-04-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinhutjohn

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.

TBRich · 09-04-2007, 10:40 PM

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!

TB

lewster · 09-04-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinhutjohn

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!

overlander63 · 09-05-2007, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewster

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...

henw · 09-05-2007, 06:13 AM

Who's got a pic. Is it 1+6. 1+7. Or, 3+4.

Tom

Jim Clark · 09-05-2007, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

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.