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07-13-2013, 07:43 PM
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#1
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New Member
Commerce
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 2
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1978 Excella - Has anyone made the same mistake?
Has anyone made the same mistake? I mistook the fiber optics for wiring and cut them. Has anyone ever experienced this and what was the fix?
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07-13-2013, 07:48 PM
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#2
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3 Rivet Member
1973 31' Excella 500
Marysville
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 219
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oops, I haven't done that one...yet.
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07-13-2013, 09:40 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Excella 500
West Sacramento
, California
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 731
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No fix, at least I'm not aware of replacement fiber optic wires. They run the length of the trailer so installing replacements would be difficult I would imagine.
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07-13-2013, 09:49 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,708
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1978 Excella - Has anyone made the same mistake?
Fiber Optics cables can be repaired, but the process is very specialized and tends to be very expensive. The technology is utilized in Internet technologies and most communication cabling companies have technicians who repair the cables. The likelihood of finding someone who has the skills to properly repair your fiber optic cable at a reasonable price is somewhat remote.
Good luck with your project!
Kevin
P.S.: You might check with a GM dealer who sells Buick or Cadillac as these cars often had fiber optic fender mounted light monitors . . . their collision repair facilities have likely had to deal with repairing the fiber optics in repairing damaged vehicles.
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
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07-13-2013, 10:07 PM
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#5
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Rivet Puller
2003 28' Safari S/O
Atlanta Burbs
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,006
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A long shot, but you might try calling Texas Fiber Optic in Midland at 432-296-6888 and see if they have a tech interested in rescuing you.
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07-14-2013, 04:34 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
Newport
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,291
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Not to true I am a certified installer but do communications and needed the cert for work. Most phone repairmen and cable repair people can repair the cable for under 100.00. If just a connector a lot less.
__________________
Gotta get busy! Have a great day! Now where did I put those revits?
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07-14-2013, 05:38 AM
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#7
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2 Rivet Member
2019 28' International
Going Where
, The Climate Suits Our Clothes
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 34
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Here's a video of how to do it yourself. With the right tools, looks pretty straightforward.
How To Splice Fiber Optic cable Manually - YouTube
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07-14-2013, 06:27 AM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
1988 25' Excella
Trumbull
, Connecticut
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 197
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Splicing fiber optic cables
Hello All. Years back I owned an old Cadilac that had fiber optic front fender indicators. It was a used car and for some reason the fiber optic cables were cut on both front fenders.
To repair them I made sure that the cut ends of the cable were as clean and cut perpedicular to the cable as possible. I used a shapr razor blade to cut them. I then took black shrink tube and slid a piece about 3" long over one end, then hold the two, end to end, together as someone slides the shrink tube over the joint and then that same someone uses a heat gun to shrink the tubing while I held the fiber optic joint tight together. It is best to use the smallist diameter shrink tube as possible to reduce the amount of heat and time needed to shrink the tubing tight around the optic cables.
It may not be optimal but I did this to the three cables on each fender and they were still transmitting signals as the old Caddy headed off to the scrap yard.
Happy camping nm1oqrz
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07-14-2013, 06:37 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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One of my cables was already cut when I got the trailer and I cut the other one just to get it out of the way. I have had some sucesses with epoxing the cables into a small section of stainless tubing and then cut and polish the end of this using finer and finer grades of emory paper. If you do this on both ends you can now tape or clamp the two polished ends together. I choose to not use mine at all. It is a gimick. When I hook up, the first thing I check is that the lights are working and that the brakes work. I have used this technique at work to make some fiber optic test rigs. The indicator on the side of the trailer is a leak point and was not worth having the extra leak potential.
Perry
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07-14-2013, 07:19 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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I watched the Fios tech splice fiber optics
I am very good at soldiering audio cables, but I was humbled by the process of splicing fiber optics. The tech used a device that was part microscope, part bionic robot, part digital ruler, part computer. Probably was up to military specs, and looked like it belonged in an operating room. The " glass" was coated with viscous " goo ".
My advice......order Fios, and when the Verizon tech arrives THREE DAYS LATE....have cash in your pockets. LOL
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07-14-2013, 07:59 AM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
Roblin
, MB.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 113
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I was installing LED tail/turn signal lights and cut the fibre optic cable by mistake. I tried patching the cut and believe I was somewhat successful because a flashlight on the end of the cable would light up the monitor on the side of the trailer. But the system was designed to monitor an incandescent bulb so I didn't go any further with it.
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07-14-2013, 08:56 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 28
Fresno/Clovis
, California
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 704
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114
One of my cables was already cut when I got the trailer and I cut the other one just to get it out of the way. I have had some sucesses with epoxing the cables into a small section of stainless tubing and then cut and polish the end of this using finer and finer grades of emory paper. If you do this on both ends you can now tape or clamp the two polished ends together. I choose to not use mine at all. It is a gimick. When I hook up, the first thing I check is that the lights are working and that the brakes work. I have used this technique at work to make some fiber optic test rigs. The indicator on the side of the trailer is a leak point and was not worth having the extra leak potential.
Perry
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Perry is right, Optics not worth worrying over. I replaced the rear lights on my '81 Excella II, did away with optics, they were a gimmick Airstream only used for a few years. You need to check running, turn and brake lights every time you hook up anyway.
__________________
Roger
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07-14-2013, 02:08 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1978 31' Excella 500
Venice
, California
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,067
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My unit had quite a bit of excess cable stowed near the light. If that is the case with your Excella, you can just pull the cut end back over to the fixture. You will also need to sand and polish the end flat.
__________________
"Not all who are laundering are washed" say Bill & Heidi
'78 Excella 500,"The Silver Pullit". vacuum over hydraulic disc brakes, center bath, rear twin. '67 Travelall 1200 B 4X4 WBCCI 3737
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02-22-2015, 08:46 AM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 142
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Mine work well. ..1st pic yull see both fiber optic,2nd pic is shows both tail lights work ,thats the top square with 2 indicaters .3rd pic shows you that the 3rd red dot at bottom is your left blinker working and it flashes as bulb blinks. 4th pic shows red dot at very bottom and that's your right blinker.blinkers are on the 2nd square box below the 1st square box.
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02-22-2015, 08:50 AM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 142
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Always make sure you tell tech not to cut any wires when foxing your rear lights. He must know which or fiber optic wires. I did my research first so when they checked our rear lights I was specific!
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02-22-2015, 08:51 AM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 142
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Darn fingers lol can't type will lol sorry
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02-22-2015, 05:18 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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I destoyed mine before I knew what they were. The good is that there is no place to leak up front where the indicators were.
Perry
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02-22-2015, 05:39 PM
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#18
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King of the Zebra Speedo
Obrien
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,439
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The "expensive" fiber optic repair would be for cable carrying faster data than the on/off of brake lights and blinkers... You can probably just cut the ends flush and heat shrink them together to do what you need them to. This isn't fiber optics for Internet or anything...
-Red, keeping it simple...
__________________
Somebody ought to clean these windows. There is a tremendous buildup of gook all over them...
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02-22-2015, 06:36 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Yup plastic fiber does not need that super a splice. Try it!
Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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02-22-2015, 06:47 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
2019 27' Tommy Bahama
London
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,343
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The 72-24 trailers had the display at the rear of the trailer instead of the front. When they were at the rear they were much brighter and easier to see. Maybe your cut wires will reach to a rearward location?
Andrew T
__________________
Andrew Thomson London, Ontario
"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions." Tex Johnston, Boeing 707 test pilot
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