Marker Lights; how to make them 'switchable?'

[burlesot]

Adding more lights sounds the simplest way to do it. I was thinking of a couple of LEDS near the bumper so I don't bang my shins! Doing it this way sounds the simplest. Thanks.

[Dale M.]

Dale,
I'm not familiar at all with a blocking diode.
Can you put that in layman's terms?

I really appreciate all of the posts trying to help.

I especially appreciate your patience with my ignorance.

Someone quite wise reminded me that we all are learning.

T

A blocking diode is a one way valve (so to speak) that will only allow electrons (electricity) to flow in one direction through it.... Sort of like a "check valve" ( reverse flow preventer) in a water or air system.... The electrons flow in same direction as arrow in diode symbol and can not flow in opposite direction..

http://cie-wc.edu/Diode-Theory-4-22-2011.pdf

Porch-marker lamps-2.JPG (35.98 KiB) Viewed 681 times

Also one could add a simple disconnect switch to disconnect marker lights circuit from porch light circuit of you do not want markers to come on with port ch lights....

NOTE: It has occurred to me the diode symbols may be in diagram backwards, if you try circuit and it does not illuminate lamp circuits properly, just reverse direction of diodes....

Dale

[burlesot]

I decided it was easier, for me anyway, to put in four LED bulbs, just under the lip of the trailer (one on each corner of the teardrop). I'll tie these four LED bulbs into the porch light circuit so that when I turn them on, I will have the four corners and the doors marked with red LED lights.

Here is the link to the LED's I ordered from Super Bright LED's: http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-wired-bolts/bolt-beam-10mm-led-light/56/

They were super cheap; a little more than $2 each.

I can't wait to see how they turn out!

Thanks for all the advice.

TB

[Socal Tom]

Thank you guys!

Just to answer the questions from SoCal.

I have a four way, flat plug from my tow vehicle.

The power source in my teardrop is 12 volt battery.

I will NOT be lending the teardrop to others, so the only idiot is me.

I'm going to need to study these diagrams to think about what they mean.

Thanks guys,
Todd

They way I've done it with the plug substitutes for the diode. The purpose of the diode is to keep the TD battery from back feeding to the car when parked. In my method, you unplug the car power ( 4 way flat plug) and plug the trailer male end into the trailer female end, then the TD battery provides the power when parked. You can demonstrate this to yourself by putting a jumper wire between your charge line on the TD to the brown wire on the flat plug on the TD.
Tom

[Bogo]

This is the way I'd do it. Automatic, nothing to forget, and you don't have to think about it.

Absolute easiest way to make driving markers come on with porch lights would be to just add wiring from 12 volt source inside trailer that powers porch lights and control them from porch light switch.... However you may (will) need BLOCKING (isolation) diodes so porch lights are not on when in tow mode (clearance lights only for trailer) or so you do not feed back to TV with power from trailer to TV lights while parked but still connected.....

http://www.the12volt.com/diodes/diodes.asp

Porch-marker lamps.JPG

Dale

[Corwin C]

Here's an even easier idea ... get another vehicle side of your trailer plug and wire it to the appropriate switches already installed in the trailer. Unplug the normal trailer wiring plug from the TV and plug into the new one and 'viola ... lights. No diode, additional switches, or possibility of messing anything up in the TV by backfeeding power.

I think that this is what Socal Tom was trying to suggest.

[Fyddler]

Here's an even easier idea ... get another vehicle side of your trailer plug and wire it to the appropriate switches already installed in the trailer. Unplug the normal trailer wiring plug from the TV and plug into the new one and 'viola ... lights. No diode, additional switches, or possibility of messing anything up in the TV by backfeeding power.

I think that this is what Socal Tom was trying to suggest.

That's what I was thinking!

[Dale M.]

[b]your still using the tow vehicles battery and could run it down and be stranded in the moring[/b].

what you need is some way to hook the marker lights into the teardrops battery thus isolate yourself from your tow vehicle and still be able to start your car in the moring.

you want your marker lights on the teardrops battery and then to be switchable to the cars styem when going down the road after dark.

slow

No... You didn't understand Corwins's solution, the second vehicle connector style connection IS on TD and uses TD battery to energize marker lamps... Just as you took so much pains to describe, concept was already in Corwin's solution.......

Dale

[burlesot]

Thank you all so much for the help.

I've decided to just use the LED's on a separate circuit. Plus, I can hide them underneath the teardrop. I think it's going to look pretty cool when I'm done!

I'll post a picture when I get it set up.

TB