12v beacons on van..

[i=p/u]

the boss has asked me to fix flashing becons on van, im going to have look now to see if i can locate the cables and see where there going and if they have there own fuse, do any of you guys have any pointers for me regarding anything relevent to what im trying to do.. if so would be great help then i can take rest of day off.. and chat on here or take kids to beach so either way is all good

 

[telectrix]

tell the boss to buy the ones with a smoke lighter plug on them.

 

[i=p/u]

i had hoped you would awnser. well been out there had a look cant bell the cables and they getting no power so im just going to run my own cables off the battery with a switch in line before beacons.

there is a switch there and has two terminals. , gtelectrix how whould i put + and - onto that switch. would i by pass the negative????

 

[i=p/u]

mogga suprise me with some of your knowledgeeee

 

[mydigitalhome]

Run own supply for light ideally from a second battery as many times left van with light on and it wont start.:stooge_curly: Thats highways work for you.

 

[telectrix]

i had hoped you would awnser. well been out there had a look cant bell the cables and they getting no power so im just going to run my own cables off the battery with a switch in line before beacons.

there is a switch there and has two terminals. , gtelectrix how whould i put + and - onto that switch. would i by pass the negative????

if you're coming off the battery, through a switch, fit a 5A in line fuse from the battery +, through the switch to 1 side of the beacon. then take the other side of the beacon to convenient bodywork with a lug and self-tapper. some beacons, you need to get the polarity correct.

 

[i=p/u]

wel after taking off few panels i got cables installed .2.5mm single cores to s/fs then off to beacons and 3 led stip lights and wallabing they work. need to change that 13A fuse for 5A as the dr says. much current does them beacons use? i wonder .

 

[telectrix]

generally it's a 21watt lamp, so 1.75A. a bit more ifd it's the type with a motor and rotating thingy

 

[sparky3366]

why the beacons? to keep within the law, they have to be visible from 360 degrees and not red or blue :smug2:...if it is for recovery work or for stand off work with cherry pickers use 2 led strobes in front grill & a lightbar at the rear. search for emergency vehicle solutions on google...I would also run a live from the battery with an in-line fuse going to a switch panel. what van is it? also led lights/beacons use very little juice so you wont have to fit a run-lock to the ignition.
I used to fit out covert police cars in belfast btw...

 

[jeremy]

LED beacons use next to nothing, but current rating will be either with instructions or available on line. We're issued with strobes whenever we're on highways, I've parked for several hours with no noticeable effect on battery power. What sort of road works are you doing?

 

[i=p/u]

we do cctv on street corners and motorways.. the beacons were alreadythere with cables cut , so somebody has been at them before and left it.

is the earth on van the negative aswell, think ive read that somewere and ive seen other cables bolted to frame.

 

[jeremy]

The whole chassis and metal work of a modern vehicle (post 60's) acts as a "return" for the battery. Easiest thing for you to do is buy a cigar lighter plug from halfords, extend the cable if necessary, and plug it into the lighter in your car, though this must be permanently live for highways work. The nipply bit of the plug is the positive and the outside springy bit is the earth/negative. Any other info, please ask. I used to work with auto electrics a lot, and have done a lot of highways work.

 

[i=p/u]

cheers jeremy, i am interested in auto electics. i got the beacons working and added few striplights in . all good. i would of been interested in wiring through one of the fuses in the pannel. is this beyond a novice and tricky. ive watched few vids on you tube and says aand you put your test lamp in negative circuit and pull the fuses and if stays lit, then is the fuse that needs changed.

also when i looked at fuse pannel in van , there was loads of spare spaces , could you of added in circuit any space available in pannel.

 

[jeremy]

One of the best guidelines in life; " Don't complicate things" If you need flashing ambers on your roof and all you need is a plug to fit into an existing socket, that's probably the way to go. To check for blown fuses in the car, connect one end of a 12v lamp tester to the cars metal work, and test, with the other end of the tester, both sides of the blade fuse. If one side causes the tester to light but the other side doesn't, then you have a perished fuse. Hope this helps.

 

[i=p/u]

its very awkward to work out which fuse is which. and yes it does help. is a car a tn-c-s system???:29:

 

[jeremy]

What car/ van is it?

 

[i=p/u]

ok vehicle sorry. iveco cherry picker id say at least 10 years old

 

[jeremy]

I'm pretty sure IVECO is Italian, I wouldn't disturb the electrics in these! Just use the cigar lighter!! Have you done Highways stuff before?

 

[i=p/u]

i can change a tyre and add water and oil thats all, oh and i know i can add a circuit to car/van/vehicle now. be a little scared case the battery drained now. but we'l see

 

[jeremy]

What I mean't was, have you worked on motorways before?!!

 

[i=p/u]

no not yet, but im sure weve just won a contract.

 

[jeremy]

Best of luck! Always remember; "It's f***ing dangerous out there!" always stay behind the barrier whenever possible, they can deform up to 2 metres inwards. Not trying to ---- you up, just always stay aware!!

 

[sparky3366]

which motorway out of interest? I used to live over there...

 

[i=p/u]

company secrets, competative market, you should know this.