Back up alarms ?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Back up alarms ?
Anyone have any thoughts on installing a back up alarm? I'm thinking I'd like to wire it into my upfitter switches so I can turn it off in residential areas or when I don't have a trailer hooked up.
Anyone have a brand they like? and advice on how to wire it up?
Anyone have a brand they like? and advice on how to wire it up?
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Why not just put it on the trailer so it will only sound off when hitched? I find them annoying the rest of the time. The only thing is, standard trailer plugs don't have a backup lead.
If you want to use an upfitter, you'll just need a relay. You could do it either NO or NC, whichever you prefer.
If you want to use an upfitter, you'll just need a relay. You could do it either NO or NC, whichever you prefer.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Why not just put it on the trailer so it will only sound off when hitched? I find them annoying the rest of the time. The only thing is, standard trailer plugs don't have a backup lead.
If you want to use an upfitter, you'll just need a relay. You could do it either NO or NC, whichever you prefer.
If you want to use an upfitter, you'll just need a relay. You could do it either NO or NC, whichever you prefer.
I'm not a wiring guy, so I have no idea on where/how to install a relay.
I'm mentally wiring running from a back up light to the switch and then to the alarm. This would let the switch break the circuit if I wanted the alarm off. Is there a place I could tap the reverse light wire in the dash and save some wiring?
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
Ok the relay is actually simple. Find a reverse wire (only hot while in reverse), probably near the harness for the back up sensor panel. This wire goes to 86 on the relay, then ground 85. Now the relay makes contact on the 30/87 when the truck is in reverse. Then run your switched power from an upfitter switch to the 87 pole on the relay and the 30 goes to a wire you run down the frame and to your back up alarm.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
If you are not clear on the use of a relay, you probably will want to get some help. But here is a brief description.
The new electronic beepers are very low current, so I don't think you need a relay due to any current concerns. In the simplest form, the beeper has two wires. One you wire into the reverse lamp circuit, the other you wire to ground. Then whenever the reverse lamps are hot, the beeper is on.
If you want to disable the beeper with an upfitter, you will need a relay with normally closed contacts (NC). You will insert these NC contacts between the reverse lamp wire and the beeper. At this point, the beeper will still work like it did before, and beep whenever the reverse lamps are hot.
But then you wire a lead from your upfitter switch (use #3 or 4 if possible) to the (+) side of the relay, and another wire from the (-) side of the relay to ground. Now when you flip the upfitter switch on, the relay will open the contacts interrupting the beeper circuit.
Well, that's a plain english attempt to describe it. Someone here probably has a schematic for relays to make it more graphic.
The new electronic beepers are very low current, so I don't think you need a relay due to any current concerns. In the simplest form, the beeper has two wires. One you wire into the reverse lamp circuit, the other you wire to ground. Then whenever the reverse lamps are hot, the beeper is on.
If you want to disable the beeper with an upfitter, you will need a relay with normally closed contacts (NC). You will insert these NC contacts between the reverse lamp wire and the beeper. At this point, the beeper will still work like it did before, and beep whenever the reverse lamps are hot.
But then you wire a lead from your upfitter switch (use #3 or 4 if possible) to the (+) side of the relay, and another wire from the (-) side of the relay to ground. Now when you flip the upfitter switch on, the relay will open the contacts interrupting the beeper circuit.
Well, that's a plain english attempt to describe it. Someone here probably has a schematic for relays to make it more graphic.
Trending Topics
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
To do it that way, change my description to use 87a as the wire for the alarm.
in the second picture 87a is not shown, but its the contact when the coil is off.
in the second picture 87a is not shown, but its the contact when the coil is off.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
The next owner would love you for that. But to each his own. Just another way to skin that cat.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
If you are not clear on the use of a relay, you probably will want to get some help. But here is a brief description.
The new electronic beepers are very low current, so I don't think you need a relay due to any current concerns. In the simplest form, the beeper has two wires. One you wire into the reverse lamp circuit, the other you wire to ground. Then whenever the reverse lamps are hot, the beeper is on.
If you want to disable the beeper with an upfitter, you will need a relay with normally closed contacts (NC). You will insert these NC contacts between the reverse lamp wire and the beeper. At this point, the beeper will still work like it did before, and beep whenever the reverse lamps are hot.
But then you wire a lead from your upfitter switch (use #3 or 4 if possible) to the (+) side of the relay, and another wire from the (-) side of the relay to ground. Now when you flip the upfitter switch on, the relay will open the contacts interrupting the beeper circuit.
Well, that's a plain english attempt to describe it. Someone here probably has a schematic for relays to make it more graphic.
The new electronic beepers are very low current, so I don't think you need a relay due to any current concerns. In the simplest form, the beeper has two wires. One you wire into the reverse lamp circuit, the other you wire to ground. Then whenever the reverse lamps are hot, the beeper is on.
If you want to disable the beeper with an upfitter, you will need a relay with normally closed contacts (NC). You will insert these NC contacts between the reverse lamp wire and the beeper. At this point, the beeper will still work like it did before, and beep whenever the reverse lamps are hot.
But then you wire a lead from your upfitter switch (use #3 or 4 if possible) to the (+) side of the relay, and another wire from the (-) side of the relay to ground. Now when you flip the upfitter switch on, the relay will open the contacts interrupting the beeper circuit.
Well, that's a plain english attempt to describe it. Someone here probably has a schematic for relays to make it more graphic.
Thanks for a very nice description of how to do this.
I do believe that I will try to do this sometime this week (weather permitting).
Question 1: If I understand your description correctly, you suggested a NC relay and then flipping the switch ON will kill the alarm. I think I want to reverse the thinking a bit. I think I want the alarm to be enabled when the switch is on, so would using a NO relay be the right way to do it?
Question 2: Does anyone have a good idea on where to amount the alarm itself? Most of the alarms I've seen seem to be about 4" x4" and are weatherproofed.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Question 1: If I understand your description correctly, you suggested a NC relay and then flipping the switch ON will kill the alarm. I think I want to reverse the thinking a bit. I think I want the alarm to be enabled when the switch is on, so would using a NO relay be the right way to do it?
WOLO BACK-UP ALARMS FOR CARS, TRUCKS, RV's INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT & MORE
Automobile, Truck & Motorcycle: Parts & Accessories
They also make one that replaces the backup lamp with a lamp that beeps and flashes. That won't work for what you want to do, but is an example of how small they can be.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,078
Likes: 0
From: Rural WV
Just my 2 centavos worth....
I have a backup alarm installed. When it goes into reverse it starts beeping. It's been really handy escpecially in crowded mall parking lots where folks just seem to wanna hang out behind cars and chat. It's a safety thing and unless somebody is DEAF, they can't say they didn't know I was backing up.
Joe
I have a backup alarm installed. When it goes into reverse it starts beeping. It's been really handy escpecially in crowded mall parking lots where folks just seem to wanna hang out behind cars and chat. It's a safety thing and unless somebody is DEAF, they can't say they didn't know I was backing up.
Joe
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
roostonu
Audio & Video Systems, Navigation, Satellite Radio & Mobile Electronics
1
May 5, 2006 03:03 AM
