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 Tow lights using stock lights... What diode to use
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mlynnard
Apprentece

USA
5 Posts

Posted - Aug 17 2007 :  12:51:12 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi,
This should be easy for the users of this forum. I want to set up my jeep to use the stock tail lights for towing. Various places sell Diodes to Isolate two power sources (Jeep and Tow vehicle)But from what I know I should be able to buy a few Diodes for a few dollars and soder them together for a fraction of the price. What I don't know is what Diodes to buy. Jeep and tow vehicles are 12 volt. Currently the bulbs are Standard 1157 tail light bulbs. I would like to upgrade to LCDs at some point.
Thanks in advance.

Aaron Cake
Administrator

Canada
6718 Posts

Posted - Aug 18 2007 :  10:49:42 AM  Show Profile  Visit Aaron Cake's Homepage  Send Aaron Cake an ICQ Message  Send Aaron Cake a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
LCDs? You mean LEDs.

What is a tow light? How is it different from a regular light?
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mlynnard
Apprentece

USA
5 Posts

Posted - Aug 18 2007 :  4:45:29 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
lol... your correct... LCD/LED... Posting too late at night.

Tow lights... Now when I tow my jeep I have to add another set of lights to the back of my jeep. I want to use the stock lights on the jeep. I can't directly wire the towing vehicle in to the Jeeps wiring because it would cause feedback to the jeeps systems. Here is a link to what I want to make: http://www.hidden-hitch.com/prod.asp?pc=38955 So I want to be able to power the Jeeps Tail lights by either the Jeeps systems or a Tow vehicles systems with out causing feed back to either system.
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marks256
Mad Scientist

USA
402 Posts

Posted - Aug 19 2007 :  2:27:46 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Doesn't jeep sell kits to do this? I have seen many campers do this when they tow their jeeps behind an RV.



EDIT: Didn't see the link the OP included... oops.


Intel: We put the 'Um...' in Pentium!

Edited by - marks256 on Aug 19 2007 2:29:19 PM
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Aaron Cake
Administrator

Canada
6718 Posts

Posted - Aug 23 2007 :  10:38:14 AM  Show Profile  Visit Aaron Cake's Homepage  Send Aaron Cake an ICQ Message  Send Aaron Cake a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
Well, it looks like you can do this by using diodes. Put a diode in series with the light and the Jeep's existing electrical system. Now feed your signal from the tow vehicle through another diode connected directly to the Jeep's light. Essentailly it will look like a Y with two diodes forming the V and the light connected at the stem.
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mlynnard
Apprentece

USA
5 Posts

Posted - Aug 23 2007 :  12:36:41 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I understand the "Y" part and that I need Diodes. What type of Diode? Part number?

Will this work: 1N4742A 1-Watt Zener Diode
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049725&cp=2032058.2032230.2032269&parentPage=family

What should I be looking for?
Thanks,
lm
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Aaron Cake
Administrator

Canada
6718 Posts

Posted - Aug 26 2007 :  10:31:08 AM  Show Profile  Visit Aaron Cake's Homepage  Send Aaron Cake an ICQ Message  Send Aaron Cake a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
You want generic rectifier diodes, not zener. Something that can handle around 10A at low voltages.
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mlynnard
Apprentece

USA
5 Posts

Posted - Aug 27 2007 :  3:48:25 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
So I don't know how to read all those specs. All the diodes I have found are at most 1.0A. Can you give me a part number?
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cyclopsitis
Nobel Prize Winner

Canada
732 Posts

Posted - Aug 30 2007 :  7:07:04 PM  Show Profile  Click to see cyclopsitis's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Look on digikey.com

http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?KeywordSearch

you can find all the parts you want. There are many others but I use digikey the most.

K
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mlynnard
Apprentece

USA
5 Posts

Posted - Sep 09 2007 :  9:44:17 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
What is so hard about giving a part number? Or better yet a link to a specific part? I even got on a IM session with digikey and they didn't know what to reccomend. They were going to give me zener's and I quoted Aaron..... Aaron also states to get 10 Amp the Radio Shack site's max, besides Zener, is 3 amps http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032269&cp=2032058.2032230&allCount=21&fbc=1&f=PAD%2FProduct+Type%2FDiodes&fbn=Type%2FDiodes

As I have stated from the beginning.... I have no clue on the specifications for these diodes or I wouldn't be asking....
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CurrentOverflow
Mad Scientist

Canada
311 Posts

Posted - Sep 10 2007 :  07:25:10 AM  Show Profile  Click to see CurrentOverflow's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Here bro, most of us like to let people learn how to research things on their own so they dont come back with the same questions later, any ways since you tried,
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Cat=1376383;keywords=10W%20diode
some how the 1kV 60amp one is the cheapest, nothing can wreck that diode lol, enjoy

~Mike~
Theres 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't
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Aaron Cake
Administrator

Canada
6718 Posts

Posted - Sep 13 2007 :  09:37:30 AM  Show Profile  Visit Aaron Cake's Homepage  Send Aaron Cake an ICQ Message  Send Aaron Cake a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
Basically what he said. Any rectifier diode with a voltage rating of 50V or more and a current rating of at least 10A will be suitable. It's been a long time since I've looked stuff like this up, so my databooks are at least 8 years old.
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