Batboard

I am doing an install on an older model chevy truck that will soon be an in-service brush fire fighting vehicle. I am putting a brakelight/reverse light flasher in. Also the truck has a back-up beeper and ground light that is just tied into the factory backup lights.

I havent hooked it up yet, but looking at the schematic I can assume that the backup beeper and ground light will activate when flasher is going. To solve this problem I first thought of just hooking a relay to the flasher switch that disconnected the back-up beeper and ground light when flasher was on. The only problem is when the truck backs up with its emergency lights on the beeper will not sound, and it is an SOP that emergency lights are on while truck is in reverse.

So now I am thinking that if put 2 relays in that when the flasher is activated disconnects the backup lights from the factory wiring. I will have the beeper and ground light connected before the relays so that no matter what, when the truck is in reverse it will sound and the ground light will activate.

Will this work?

Any more ideas? Feel free to post!

I am planning on finishing this install Tuesday, so I will post some pics. The truck looks pretty sweet compared to what it did when it had military tan and grey primer on it!


Nick

You need to connect the backup alarm BEFORE the flasher and make sure there is a diode between the flasher and the alarm. The diode will prevent any backfeeding from the flash. Some have this built in, some do not.

Exactly! Use a 6A barrel type diode. Solder it to the wires and cover with adhesive shrinktube.

you might want to leave the bottom light on too more light to the back

Ok, I was going to go with a diode, but I was worried with current draw because I couldnt find a diode higher than 4amps. I went with the relay idea, using 1 relay so when the flasher is on, it disconnects the back-up lights from the factory wiring all together. It works perfectly! Backup beeper and backup light come on when truck is in reverse regardless if emergency lights are on or not. Thanks for the ideas, I will post pics soon!


Thanks again.

Nick