brake lamps

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:wave thinking about a 3rd brake lamp with a cargo lamp above the back glass,something like the trucks have above their back glass,<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3e64e2b8ef1f0P1010045.jpg/> any ideas and where you can purchase would be appricated'could wire the cargo lamp as a back-up lamp and switch it fom the inside for security purpose and still have a hi mounted stop lamp:O

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There was a recent thread on rec.outdoors.rv-travel (a UseNet group, reach it thru dejanews.com) about a reasonably-priced source for LED fixtures for RVs, including yellow and red marker, tail and brake lights. Alas, none were suitable for Egg rears as replacement lights both for physical (mounting) and lighting (no tag white illumination), but several were prolly good as a third light, with both tail, turn and brake functions.

Pete and Rats

PS the wiring's going to be the hard part unless you run it up the outside, flapping in the breeze...

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consider using a lbrake light from a Jeep Wrangler...spare tire mount. Don't know what your feelings are about cross-breeding, but at least you could run the wires up behind your spare.

But please, mount it in such a manner that it's centered. All the factory stuff is off-center for clearance when opened...real tacky lookin!!

Dick

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JC Whitney offers a bunch of different interior or exterior 3rd brake lights.

Here's a link to an interior light

http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CAT...ID=5239&BQ=jcw2

You could also fashion some sort of exterior brake light, by mounting an aluminum bar on the tire carrier bolt. And like Dick says, running the wiring up behind the tire.

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Wiring isn't a problem if you're willing to snake it behind the insulation and drill holes in the outside. If it were me though - I'd mount it below the window closer to the belly band. Less distance to snake wires around.

Another option to consider -
Try browsing around Motorcycle accessory places. I'll get the URL in a few minutes if I can - but I know there's a place that sells a battery operated brake light that doesn't need to be hooked up to the vehicle's lighting circuit. It uses the change in momentum to know when to flip on the light.

mkw

Here it is...

http://users.tm.net/topserve/cycle.htm

It's made to be mounted just above the licence plate of a bike (smaller plates). Mounting could easily be adapted to bolt to the belly band or the spare tire though. To add an additional attention-getting feature (aka irritating the guy behind ya) the light doesn't just shine red - it flashes. :)

mkw

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Mike, are you a scamp owner? Ain't no insulation on a Casita. That foam backed carpet is glued tight to the shell.

I've snaked wire between the carpet and the fiberglass shell and it's not easy. Guess one could cut and reglue the carpet. Home depot has a white plastic molding thats adhesive backed, made for hiding speaker wire and such.
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3e667a5ddffc5106-0699_IMG.JPG/>
I stuck one on my wall at home and now can't get it off. You might cut away the carpet and run this on the inside from the light (mounted outside, below the window) to the floor?!

I bought one of J C Whitneys 50 led lights for my motorcycles 'third' brake light. About 15 in. long, and it's GREAT!

To mount one to the Casita, you could set it in silicon caulk (no holes), it'll stay put.

Cargo light (above the window) would be easier, splicing on to the circuit at the rear cabinet light. Carpet cutting would be inside the cabinet so it wouldn't show. Too bad there's no brake light circuit up there.

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:wave the only thing I have been able to find so far that looks like it will fit is the cargo lamp with brake lamps off of a wrecked 97 ford truck,50$,should be able to wire the cargo lamps as backup lamps and also switch them with the inside switch for the outside lamp. Also,when I back up the outside door lamp and the cargo lamp will come on!:zz Still looking:O

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:wave :wave Will a LED lamp fixture operate ok with the 12volt casita wiring without any aditional changes? Just buy and try??:o

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A non-subcutaneous method for hiding wires over carpet is some hook-side velcro wide enuf to cover the wires and still grab the carpet. Problem might be to find a source for the stuf wide enuf and close enuf in color (or contrasting to match something else).

Pete and Rats who would like to have some wires where they could get to them...

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velcro
last time I saw wide was at a hardware store. like Lowes or Ace.
closes in color would be white, maybe cream. usually have black, red, blue. some fabric stores have it, but fewer colors.

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<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3e80b1b3d72ef3rd stop.JPG/> :wave Charles helped me find this hi-mount brake and turn lamp at J C Whitney for about 20$ The lamp below it is my outside security lamp for the back of casita,think I'll wire it also for a back-up lamp since I do not have back-up lamps.Hmmmmm that sounds like more fun.:lol

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Looking good Roy!

Hey, tell us how you installed the third brake/turn light, ok?

And you obviously added the "porch" light over the back window too.

Details, Roy, we need details! Also some pictures of the installation if you have them? How did you identify which wires to splice?

Has to be a real improvement in overall highway safety to have a high-mount stop light like yours!

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Roy
Looking good.Like Charles said (more info please).:wave

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Roy,
Tell us how that brake light is wired.
- to one of the brake lights?, does it blink with the turn signal?
OR
- through a converter?

Thanks.

ACAR makes a 2-3 filament converter which should work for this application.

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Hi all
I feel kinda dumb here.I was following this thread because I thought the installation of the lite at top of Casita was a good idea and I wanted to do same thing.Just now I was looking out my window and just TOOK notice I already have Lites.:wak

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3e80ea9a2b81fb.jpg/>

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:wave Jim,:wave the hi mount lamp(jc whitney# 12zx4336p 11.99$) gives a left or right turn signal, both lamps(leds) will operate when brake is applied,if you apply the brakes with the turn lamp on ,that turn lamp will blink and the other stays on till you release the brake pedal.this lamp is a 16 led fixture with double sided tape on a curved base (good for mounting on curved rear of casita). It is a 3 wire hookup( ground,left and right turn) with 16 leds inside,I did not order the logic circuit,(could order later if needed) just though this would be fun to work on since I have not any experence with logic circuits.Hmmmmmm if it still raining tomorrow I might check out the back-up lighting:O

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Roy:

Neat :) , how'd you run the wires?

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:shg There are diffferent ways to get the the job done,duct tape over the external wires etc.Couldn't locate any duct tape(sold out):conf so had to keep the wires inside. made a 1" cut in the carpet halfway between tail lamps and overhead storage.used a piece of stiff wire(wire cloths hanger,electrican fish tape etc.).pushed the wire up between the carpet and fiberglass(releasing the carpet glue for a path for the wires)to the inside of storage cabinet,cut the carpet there and finished pushing the stiff wire out into the storage area,hooked one wire(to be used to pull the other wires thru) to the stiff wire and pulled it to and out(about 6") thru the cut opening ,disconnected the wire.turned around and pushed the stiff wire to the area of tail lamp wires and cut the carpet and finished pushing the stiff wire out thru the cut,hooked a wire to the stiff wire and pulled it up to the cut carpet where the other wire is located,hooked the wires together securely and pulled the splice to the storage area,took a piece of 2 wire appliance cord #14 16 ft long and tied(securly) the single pull wire to the middle of the 16ft piece and pulled the 4 wires down to the tail lamp area.this gave me 4 wires from the tail lamp area to the storage area below where the 3 wire hi-mount lamp will be located.drilled a 1/4 hole thru fiberglass where i wanted to locate the hi-mount, pushed the hi-mount wires into the storage area and fastened to 3 of the 4 wires located there. :huh with the turn lamps operating, located left, right turn lamp and groud wires (using a 12 volt sharp pointed probe) .Then I started playing aroud with different hookups till it worked .:conf PHEEEEEEE 8hrs of fun. Now I can get to work on the back-up lamps.no pictures taken,don't want anybody to see me working and sweating and loving it..:wub

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Roy:

Thanks for the wiring description.

That's basically how I ran the wiring for my solar panel. Not a fun job.

I added a 50 led fixture (like J.C. Whitneys) on my motorcycle for a 'center' brake light and have been eyeing it as a possibility for the Casita.

Your installation is inspiring.

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:wave :o Pine cone :wave what part # is that 50 led fixture and how big and what kind of mounting ??would that be overkill for a brake and turn lamp? I liked the Jim's Boler lamp layout,Is the fiberglass moulded to fit the lamps,I can't tell by looking at the picture?:winter I'll post a before and after picture of hi-mount lamp on the casita when she (wife) thaw's out! The trip in Feburary was a cold one. She didn't object to buying that mr. buddy heater:inbox