secondary running light switch?

[rcaldwel]

Question(How To) for TDR experts;



Is it possible to install a heavy duty toggle switch that can be used to flash your lights to thank trucks for blinking (telling you are clear to move back over). I think you should be able to wire into the light switch for only the rear running lights and then to the toggle switch. The only catch in my mind is to be sure that you keep the toggle switch in the on position before and after you do your blinking "thanks" signal. Also, wouldn't that also hold true to if you were pulling your trailer. I would think that if you wire the toggle to the master switch area that where every the trailer light splice would have been it should take care of that as well. Hope this message makes sense. The reason I would like to do this is that now when I thank the truckers, I have to shut off the light switch and of course that means that the headlights go out for a second or two.



What are your thoughts and any guidance you can give me on doing this right?



Thanks,



bob Caldwell

 

[JLinder]

Can't really help with the wiring part,

But I can help you with a switch. I bought a Kenworth toggle switch specifically made for running the "good-buddy" lights in the newer trucks. The switch is normally closed, when you push it the switch opens, when you release it springs back off again. My guess would be to splice the toggle in between the light switch on the dash and the relays, that way you wouldn't have to worry about the switch failing. But like I say, I don't really know about the wiring part. Hope this helps you some.

 

[Fuzz]

Here's what I did

This thread is what I did... So far so good...



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17629



Fuzz

 

[rcaldwel]

blinking lights

This question is mainly for Fuzz, but others please feel free to help me out too:



In your reply Fuzz, just wanted to make sure I understood correctly.

From your cut Blk/YLW at the headlight you attached it to one of the 55071 ends and then the other 55071 terminal you attached to the BLK/YLW cut line(I assume this goes to the relay in PDC?) and finally you ran a hot wire to the Cole-Hersee.



Questions:

1. does it matter which terminals you hook to especially for the hot wire? I haven't looked at the Cole switch yet.

2. Should this also work when you hook your trailer up(I got the factory tow package.

3. Last question, I have a 98. 5. Do you think the wiring is the same?



Thanks. This forum is great. TDR members just have so much knowledge it really is neat to hear from experts.



Bob Caldwell

 

[Fuzz]

Bob,

What you said. There are 3 terminals on CH switch. They are not marked. But you are right it goes to the relay in the PDC. As to which terminal on switch,it will only work one way ie if you plug into switch and lights come on then switch the wires around.

It blinks everything that is on the clearance light ckt. And the lights (clearance on trailer.

Not sure about the '98 but would assume(uh-oh)that the wiring for this is probably the same. At some year around then they changed the headlight switch some. Some of the guys with older

(than Y2K) could switch wires and have the cargo light on in first click instead of dome light. But even here the wire to the PDC relay may be the same color.

On the CH switch. . there are 2 terminals near the top and the hot terminal is down near the middle. Go to the Colehersee web page and download their catalog(PDF) for TOGGLE SWITCHES...

The switch is there. The web page will also give a list of distributors for them.

Fuzz

 

[rcaldwel]

Blinking light toggle install question

Question is mainly for Fuzz, but anyone feel free to add:



I got the toggle switch installed as you said. I found the blk/yl wire and cut and spliced it. I attached the toggle switch and it seemed to work fine when I did not turn on the lights. All the running lights blinked on and then off. When I turned on the headlight switch to the running lights stop, I get nothing for running lights as well as when I pull it out all the way for the headlights to come on. Could I have goofed! Probable! I did splice into a hot wire that goes directly to the battery. Would this be the problem. Should I be splicing into a different hot wire somewhere on the headlight switch???? Any suggestions would be really appreciated.





Thanks,



Bob Caldwell

 

[Fuzz]

Bob,

Have you switched the wires on the terminals of the CH switch?

When I first tried it,it worked perfect then when I mounted the switch and plugged in the wires it did as you are saying yours does. I switched the wires and now it works OK ie,lights off,toggle switch will blink lites on,lights on toggle switch will blink lites off. Try switching the wires around on the switch terminals.

The hot wire should be OK. . I used an always hot from my painless module. Let me know,I would be interested in what you find.

I am not sure now if I used the hot wire in the swithing around or not,but would try all the combo's to see it it works.

Fuzz

-- email address removed --

 

[rcaldwel]

blinking light getting closer

Fuzz,



thanks for the advice. I did try some combinations and found that if I move the hot wire to the toggle right side and then move the headlight switch side of the blk/yl to the bottom and the PDC side to the upper left across from the now hot I do get the following:



With the headlight switch off-running lights do blink with the toggle.



With first stop pull out of the headlight switch- blinking occurs.



With second stop pull out of the headlight switch- blinking occurs but the dash lights the illuminate the RPM and Speedo blink as well. I can live with that.



One last question, I did notice that with the first stop pull on the headlight switch I only get the blinking if I toggle down. Are you suppose to be able to do up or down or is this normal. Again I can live with that as well. I just thought I would ask. Also, I haven't tried all combinations yet. Ran out of time today. Do you think I should continue more combinations based on what I have mentioned above?



thanks,



Bob Caldwell

 

[Fuzz]

Sounds like your close... As far as the toggle down for one way or the other(what'd I just say). I mean on mine and the way it is mounted(the switch)if my clearance lights are ON. . and I go down with toggle. . nothing happens. . go up :they flash. .

With clearance lights OFF(headlight switch OFF)go down with they flash.

So I guess what I am trying to say is they will only work correct one way ,like ,lites on,toggle up,flash. toggle down nothing,lights stay steady.

Lights Off:Toggle down,lights flash ON,Toggle UP: Nothing lites stay OFF.

I guess if you think about it. . the switch really just puts the battery to the lights direct when they are off at the headlight switch,but when they are on at the headlight switch the CH switch breaks the power to the lights. . if you toggle the right way.

With 3 terminals if you go down(for instance)the hot terminal is connected to the ligths. . if the lites are on from headlight switch,nothing happens,if go up the two top terminals are separated,lights flash off. Well kinda like that.



Will check my dash lites don't know if they flash or not. . never noticed ,will let you know.

Fuzz

 

[dezeldog]

RE: light switch

Fuzz, Iam also interested in a similar set up. I only want to flash the rear lites and markers. No need to flash the head lites as seldom does anyone ever get by me thanx in advance Jim

 

[Fuzz]

Jim,

The first message of this thread gives the thread that is a how to.

Only the clearance lights flash with this switch.

Works pretty slick,for me anyway

Fuzz

 

[M Barnett]

If you don't want to go to all the work of installing a switch, when the other truck flashes you are clear, pull back over in the lane, turn signal off and turn on the emergency flashers for a couple flashes and then turn them off.

Michael