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Topic: Tail light conversion 2002-U320, separate turn & brake signals possible? (Read 578 times) previous topic - next topic

Tail light conversion 2002-U320, separate turn & brake signals possible?

Has this ever been done? I'm attempting to upgrade the rear tail lights on our 2002 U320 to LED assemblies. This was the year FT started using "one wire" to provide both brake light signal and turn signal functions via a single wire from the front.  One bulb has two functions: Brake and turn. The plan was to use the LED RED part of the "new" Ford Excursion LED assembly (fits perfect BTW) as the parking light/brake light. The clear backup area is fitted with an amber hi-power LED.  Extreme has added a 4" new Backup LED below.   
The original idea was to use a 2 wire to 3-wire "Converter", we chose a Curt 56196 unit to produce the separate feeds to the new LED assembly, (one turn signal, one brake signal).  This does not work, the amber lamp flashes once only. Rance over at Extreme has tried a number combinations.  Wondering if anyone has any ideas or has accomplished this successfully without running new wires from front to back?

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated.  Thanks, Jeff 

Jeff & Kristen
2002 U320 build #6039
Living the Dream!

Re: Tail light conversion 2002-U320, separate turn & brake signals possible?

Reply #1 –
I think you will need new wires, unless Foretravel used the same harness but just coiled up the now unused one (on both ends...) However there are extra wires already run from the dash to the rear of the coach and are of varying gauges, so you would likely be able to used those. Do a search on extra wires and you should see many hits...
Don
Quote from: Beeman –
Has this ever been done? I'm attempting to upgrade the rear tail lights on our 2002 U320 to LED assemblies. This was the year FT started using "one wire" to provide both brake light signal and turn signal functions via a single wire from the front.  One bulb has two functions: Brake and turn. The plan was to use the LED RED part of the "new" Ford Excursion LED assembly (fits perfect BTW) as the parking light/brake light. The clear backup area is fitted with an amber hi-power LED.  Extreme has added a 4" new Backup LED below.   
The original idea was to use a 2 wire to 3-wire "Converter", we chose a Curt 56196 unit to produce the separate feeds to the new LED assembly, (one turn signal, one brake signal).  This does not work, the amber lamp flashes once only. Rance over at Extreme has tried a number combinations.  Wondering if anyone has any ideas or has accomplished this successfully without running new wires from front to back?

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated.  Thanks, Jeff 


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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Tail light conversion 2002-U320, separate turn & brake signals possible?

Reply #2 –
I had a similar problem when converting my crane. The LED's did not provide enough draw to make my flasher work. I solved it by getting an electronic flasher. I am not sure if your situation might be the same.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Tail light conversion 2002-U320, separate turn & brake signals possible?

Reply #3 –
Yes, I wonder if the Curt 56196 converter is designed to work with LEDs?
I found it on Amazon and in the Q/A section it says "yes" but when I go to Curt website and spec sheet there is no mention either way.
You could try to add some resistance in parallel.  Like using a 100 ohm resister or just another 12 volt incandescent light (or maybe a test lamp).  Connect one end of resister to ground and the other to the taillight input for the turn signal.
It looks like LED compatible converters are available.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: Tail light conversion 2002-U320, separate turn & brake signals possible?

Reply #4 –

This is the timer I used for my auto-off water pump switch.

Amazon.com: Small Miniature time on off cycling delay relay 0.1 sec to 9999...

A +12 volt on will start the timer in almost any pattern you want sending out +12 v pulses until the +12 v feed is shut off.
Thre fast flashes and then longer intervals and on times sort of like you see on EMT vehicles is possible.  Any pattern you want to program.

The original wiring diagram would help. 

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Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Tail light conversion 2002-U320, separate turn & brake signals possible?

Reply #5 –
Thanks everyone.  A few points:  Rance did install an OEM electronic flasher module as a first step, and that didn't solve the problem.  I did reach out to FT and talked to Tech support, James over there has sent me the electrical Schematics and I'll be looking at that in detail this weekend.  Rance has the brake light / parking light figured out, he grabbed the brake signal from the Third Brake light wire.  Just the rear turn signals are a problem.

I think there's something strange in the way the circuit has been altered.  They report that when either blinker is activated, the LED turn signal for that side flashes, however the opposite side turn LED lights and is constant???  Unfortunately, this also makes the opposite side mid-ship turn signal bright too. Sounds like there might be some voltage feedback and require diodes to block the 12V??  Hard to diagnose when you are not there... FT parts also has in-stock a digital flasher that is used on the IH model which uses LED red brake, LED amber turns, (separate circuits).  I'll check to see if its compatible and pick one of those up in May when we get back to Nac. 

The Curt 56196 converter was a gamble, John Fritz, and you are correct about question if these will work with LED circuits. I saw the same comments...  Perhaps I'll add a  load resister to the circuit to see if there is any change, also I saw a "Tow Ready" p/n118158 converter that does the same converter function. I could not find any  "made for LED's"  2 wire to 3 wire converters anywhere, that would be the EASY fix....

Thanks Don for pointing out that there were spare wires in the loom, that's a huge time saver and I didn't think of that one.  Finally, if I have to, I guess I'll look at using a "spare" wire from front to back and grab the front turn signal circuits, or since we can't use the two brake/turn wires, re-point those connections at the front. May have to utilize a relay in the back to ensure good voltage for the LED's.
 
Roger, thank you for that gadget, I have a use for that!  This is fun, best way to learn about this monster!

I was hoping to steal shamelessly someone else's easy implementation...

Jeff
Jeff & Kristen
2002 U320 build #6039
Living the Dream!
 

Re: Tail light conversion 2002-U320, separate turn & brake signals possible?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Beeman –
The Curt 56196 converter was a gamble, John Fitz, and you are correct about question if these will work with LED circuits. I saw the same comments...  Perhaps I'll add a  load resister to the circuit to see if there is any change, also I saw a "Tow Ready" p/n118158 converter that does the same converter function. I could not find any  "made for LED's"  2 wire to 3 wire converters anywhere, that would be the EASY fix....
Yes, I was wrong about 2 to 3 converters for LEDs being available.  I couldn't find any either.  The Tow Ready 118158 according to the etrailer.com will not work with LEDs.  There is a review of the Tow Ready 118158 on Amazon of someone with a 1990 motorhome doing the same conversion to LEDs and reports it worked, but then there's another of someone saying they didn't work with LEDs.  "Grain of salt" when it comes to reviews.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho