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Old 07-13-2013, 07:43 PM   #1
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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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Old 07-13-2013, 07:48 PM   #2
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oops, I haven't done that one...yet.
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Old 07-13-2013, 09:40 PM   #3
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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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Old 07-13-2013, 09:49 PM   #4
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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.
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Old 07-13-2013, 10:07 PM   #5
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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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Old 07-14-2013, 04:34 AM   #6
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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.
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Old 07-14-2013, 05:38 AM   #7
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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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Old 07-14-2013, 06:27 AM   #8
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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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Old 07-14-2013, 06:37 AM   #9
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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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Old 07-14-2013, 07:19 AM   #10
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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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Old 07-14-2013, 07:59 AM   #11
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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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Old 07-14-2013, 08:56 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114 View Post
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
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.
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Old 07-14-2013, 02:08 PM   #13
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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.
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Old 02-22-2015, 08:46 AM   #14
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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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Old 02-22-2015, 08:50 AM   #15
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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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Old 02-22-2015, 08:51 AM   #16
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Darn fingers lol can't type will lol sorry
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Old 02-22-2015, 05:18 PM   #17
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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.

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Old 02-22-2015, 05:39 PM   #18
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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...
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Old 02-22-2015, 06:36 PM   #19
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Yup plastic fiber does not need that super a splice. Try it!


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Old 02-22-2015, 06:47 PM   #20
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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?

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