Batboard

I'm looking to add SVR200s to two ambulances. Both are Ford E350 chasis. One is a 1998, the other a 2000.

My plan is to tie the enable line on the vehicular repeater, through a relay, to the park sense from the vehicle, so that the repeaters only operate when the rigs are parked.

Any suggestions on where/how to pick up the park sense?

Thanks!

Perhaps a better choice would be the parking brake switch. There should be a pin switch on the pedal assembly (grounds when parking brake is set)

The crew should be setting the parking brake prior to exiting the vehicle. (IMO)

Alot of ambulance manufacturers use that for the high idle sense anyway. Would probably be a good idea.

But I imagine he is wanting the sense for the park so they will not forget to turn it on.

I just can't remember off the top of my head what it is. I have used them before for the sirens but just can't remember what color the wire is.

I remember it will be a ground, coming out of the steering colum of course. But that's about all I can think of right now.

Hmmmm... That would be the easiest way, and you're right, they should always set the E-brake.

Unfortuantely, I have little faith in the realities of training some of the volunteer drivers. Once they get tired of yelling at me that the vehicular repeater doesn't work, because they forgot to set the brake, I'll have to try and retrain them.

Once I succeed, I'll probably have the Fleet Manager breathing down my neck because they've started driving to the E.R. with the E-brake (and the repeater) still on. (Yes, it has happened before. Multiple times.)

So, I'm probably still looking for a "park" sense, although the E-brake has the makings of a good plan"B"

Thanks!

Don't rely on the E-brake... they won't use it. If it's a Powerstroke, there isn't an external idler since it uses its own system for this.

Most OEM ambulance manufacturers have a circuit in their OEM electonics to interpret the vehicle's TCM's park signal and convert it into a binary format for use in their equipment.

The park signal can be found either on the circuit board in the rear of the truck or on the rear of the PCB at the front lighting controls. It's usually marked "PARK" or "KILL" right on the PCB. ALWAYS use a 1N4007 diode when connecting. Look on the PCB near the siren controls, first.

If not, install a magnetic reed switch on the lower shift lever at the bottom of the column.

Depending on the year (02>) and all, there MAY be a microswitch at the base of the shift lever itself for the park interlock. You'll need to install a relay on these on invert the signal for the park/ground format.

If you can't find the manufacturers park kill line I have external modules that tie into the ford wiring and give you a true "park" sense function, they have a 10 amp relay built into them as well. I use them all the time for preemption installs, work great on the ford ambulances and the crown vics. Most cops don't want to tie up intersections leaving the preemption on at the intersection. PM me if interested in the modules. Only takes 5 minutes to install.

Haydn