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10-20-2008, 16:53

Before I begin...It's a good idea to sketch out on paper a new panel as
described later. Also the bus original receptacle, a new wire loom, and
a new brake controller.

I've pretty much finished the bus
Trailer Wiring project. Just need to tidy up a bit. All is working from
what I can tell. I need to hook the trailer to the bus to validate the
new trailer brake controller. The controller's display shows it's not
hooked up to the bus which is true.

What I did...I made up an 80' loom (6 wires, allowing wires for
future). I thought I had too much wire...ended up using all but 2'.
Took a day to install the wire loom...that counts my buddies stopping
to talk. I used #14 wire to make the loom. The the loom is inside 5/8"
split loom... #16 or #18 wire would work, and will make it easier to
install the smaller diameter loom. The loom wires are used to trigger
relays (turn them on) and then wire the relay output # 87using larger
size wire to the trailer 7 pin receptacle.

I also made up a panel consisting of....6 relays, an 8 gang fuse
block, one 30 amp circuit breaker (CB), and a ground lug. I labeled the
relays L, LT, RT, BK, 12V, BU. The relay ground pins # 86 are wired to
the ground lug on the new panel.

The CB provides power to the 8 gang fuse block. The other side of
the 8 gang fuse block, one each, is wired to a # 30 relay pin.

The
original trailer receptacle wires ...I used three of the wires. Testing
them showed they are OK. The wires are the Lights (L), Left Turn (LT),
Right Turn (RT). Two other wires did not show any power. One could have
been a ground wire. The three wires were wired to trigger the L, LT, RT
(new) relay # 85 pins.

Two new loom wires were used to send signals back to the # 85 relay
terminals on the new panel. The signals are the brake controller brake
wire from the new brake controller, and a back-up light wire. The
back-up wire is connected to the Back-Up pole on the gen compartment
12V panel.

The brake controller exciter signal is wired to the Stop Light pole
on the gen compartment 12V panel. Power for the brake controller is
taken from one of the CBs out front of the driver. And the ground is connected out front as well.

The 12V relay on the new panel...power is supplied from the battery
collection lug (isolator), to the input side of the 30 amp CB. The CB
output side supplies the feed to the # 85 pin on the 12V relay.
Complete all other wiring before doing this step.

The relay # 87 wire to the trailer receptacle...All are # 12 wires
except for the 12V and the Brake and they are #10. The #10 might be
overkill but that's me.

The only real issue is routing the new wire loom. The rest is easier than it sounds. I'm getting ready for the Buellton, CA rally and for now do not have the time to make up a schematic.

Our coach has dual (each side) red led tail/brake/turn/flasher LED lights.

With the brake applied along with a L or R turn, the turn side blinks, the other side is a steady brake light.

I'll try to get to hooking up the trailer tomorrow. I'll keep you posted.