Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (January 2000, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Tue, 4 Jan 2000 13:10:31 +0200
Reply-To:     Juha Koivisto <juha.koivisto@TEPCOMP.FI>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Juha Koivisto <juha.koivisto@TEPCOMP.FI>
Subject:      Trailer 3 to 2 converter
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Here is the European to US Trailer converter 3 => 2 w/o voltage drop caused by diodes. I have designed this for my own purposes. This could be the same schema Mike mentioned.

You need: 2 pcs change over relays (12 V automotive or general) 2 pcs 1 Amp diodes 2 pcs electrolytic capasitors some wire, connectors etc.

And it works as follows:

If the ST wire has + 12 V then both LTS/ST and RTS/ST has + 12 V. If LTS has + 12 V then its relay is energized and connects it to LTS/ST. If both ST and LTS wires have + 12 V then LTS is dominating. While LTS flashes + 12 V on/off capasitor keeps relay energized during off -periods => same tact and flashing rate as in towing vehicle.

Selecting capasitor value (voltage rating 25 V preferred):

First measure impedance of your relay. If you have automotive relay its impedance might be 100 to 150 ohms and general relays could be 200 to 300 ohms.

100 ohms => 3300 mikrofarads 150 ohms => 2200 mikrofarads 300 ohms => 1000 mikrofarads

These values give about 500 ms off delay to relay.

Schema: Diode: (anode)--D|--(cathode)

Capasitor: __|__ + terminal |____| ------- | - terminal

Relay coil:

__|__ |__\__| |

Poles of the relay (drawn as de-energized)

n/o ---o /o--- c n/c ---o/

GND = GROUND TL = TAIL LIGHTS LTS = LEFT TURN SIGNAL ST = STOP or BRAKE LIGHTS RTS = RIGHT TURN SIGNAL

GND ---+--------------------(white)------------------------ GND | TL -----------(brown)----------------------- TL | | LTS ---+-------------------------------o | | /o--- LTS/ST | +--D|---+-------------+ o/ | __|__ __|__ | | |____| |__\__| | | ------- | | | | | | +---------------------+-------------+ | | ST ---(red)---------------------------+ +---------------------+-------------+ | __|__ __|__ | -------- |__\__| | |____| | | | | | +--D|---+-------------+ o\ | \o--- RTS/ST RTS ---+-------(green)--------------o

Hope this will help someone.

Juha Koivisto 88 Vanagon (Caravelle) 1,6TD (old school bus with 9 seats) TURKU, FINLAND


[text/html]


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.