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How to wire in tail lights and side lights to use as outside ...

T

tinoworldinc

hi i know this sounds a little bit silly and childish but what i want to do is wire in the caravan lights which come on when it is plugged into the car to use them as more outside lights. because when i goes dark i would like to be able to see the corners and that because i have a hobby 720 and it is pretty long also it would help prevent people crashing into it if they didnt see it. many thanks
 
martin....not really a good idea. The external road lights are wired independantly to the internal lights and they pick the power up from the car and only come on when the car lights are activated. To wire these to the caravan battery would need a secondary set of wiring that must be deactivated when towing.

If you want visibility around your van whilst on site why not invest in a set of the Garden type Solar lights. These charge their own batteries using solar power during the day and they automatically light up at dusk and then go out at dawn. Most do not provide a very bright light but they should be adequate for what you need.
 
Couldn't you just make up a lead that connects to the plug (12S or N or whichever) and that connects to the battery and power the lights that way ?
 
well i dont know thats why i am asking

i was thinking of finding out which cables do what i am only looking for the front running lights, the rear side lights and headlights and the orange lights on the side which show the length of the van
 
Well then if that's your question I would say - Yes.

The wiring information is mentioned everywhere, check you caravan handbook, or do a search here, or on Google.
 
Well then if that's your question I would say - Yes.

The wiring information is mentioned everywhere, check you caravan handbook, or do a search here, or on Google.
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i've looked but cant refine search right what search criteria would you suggest?
 
On your 12N plug (the Black one), put a Live supply (+) to Pin 4, link Pin 4 to Pin 7, and then put your return (Earth -) onto Pin 3.
 
On your 12N plug (the Black one), put a Live supply (+) to Pin 4, link Pin 4 to Pin 7, and then put your return (Earth -) onto Pin 3.
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Sorry, I should have said "Put a Live supply (+) on to Pins 4 and 7", and your Return/Earth on to Pin 3.

If you run the link on your plug as I mentioned above, it would interfer with your normal road operation.
 
Am I the only one who has never heard of anyone running into a van on site because they did not see it in the dark?

I can understand tripping over guylines but a caravan is generally big, white and where you would expect to find it.

Makes all that stealth technology look a bit redundant!
 
Posted this in E & A thread on the same subject.

Come on, this is simple school boy electrics.

Running lights are the Black & Brown wires in the seven core cable. If the caravan has an inboard junction box you could wire a live switched feed from the battery to the appropriate terminals with those wires. Or wire a live feed from the battery to an extra 12N sockets pins number five and seven fitted to the A Frame, then plug the seven pin plug to it when detached from the car.

ps. not sure why Eddie suggests wiring to pin 4 as that is the right hand indicator light pin! The caravan wiring is earthed as is the battery, so there is no real need to run another earth wire.

Replacing the normal bulbs with LED bulbs would save on battery power and draining it.
 
Posted this in E & A thread on the same subject.

Come on, this is simple school boy electrics.

Running lights are the Black & Brown wires in the seven core cable. If the caravan has an inboard junction box you could wire a live switched feed from the battery to the appropriate terminals with those wires. Or wire a live feed from the battery to an extra 12N sockets pins number five and seven fitted to the A Frame, then plug the seven pin plug to it when detached from the car.

ps. not sure why Eddie suggests wiring to pin 4 as that is the right hand indicator light pin! The caravan wiring is earthed as is the battery, so there is no real need to run another earth wire.

Replacing the normal bulbs with LED bulbs would save on battery power and draining it.
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Hi Jazman, you're absolutely correct - pin 4 is the indicator, I should have said pin 5. (The old eyes aint wot they use to be!)
 
I don't know about using the road lights to aid visibility on site but I made a test box years ago that I use to switch each lighting and indicator circuit on / off independantly . It's all basic stuff and anybody who thinks they are capable to do it could work it out.

It did come in handy when I had to seperaate the car from the van at nights as I could leave the van road lights on. Its also useful if there is an indicator fault as attempting to trace a fault with the car indicarors flashing is a frustrating task.
 
must be something about hobby 720 owners that makes them do silly things like this, whats the point ? you want to see the corners ? open your eyes the vans a big bright white thing right in front of you.

A friend of ours had a hobby 720 well he had 2 actually the second one to replace the first that was stolen and the second one got nicked 4 month later, he fitted long vehicle boards to the back as he thought it would look good, in truth it just embarrased the hell out of us and everyone else who toured with him, we all knew the only reason he did this was to shout look how big my van is, it didnt impress anyone.
 
must be something about hobby 720 owners that makes them do silly things like this, whats the point ? you want to see the corners ? open your eyes the vans a big bright white thing right in front of you.

A friend of ours had a hobby 720 well he had 2 actually the second one to replace the first that was stolen and the second one got nicked 4 month later, he fitted long vehicle boards to the back as he thought it would look good, in truth it just embarrased the hell out of us and everyone else who toured with him, we all knew the only reason he did this was to shout look how big my van is, it didnt impress anyone.
Click to expand...
Big and German WOW
 
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