Electrical question - (Van alert - not bike)

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

After a simple way (if it's possible) to wire these lights in my van up:

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/10336826_10152410980280606_1462391329830153781_n.jpg

So that they come on with the interior lights, as the doors are opened.
Go out again, with the interior lights (With the doors closed).

Which is what they are now - Directly wired into the interior lights (Transit had 3 in the back originally).

But I'd also like to be able to turn them on and off with an independant switch, without the two interior lights in the cab coming on.

They are constantly lived up, and are switched on / off at the moment, with the door switches earthing the circuit.

Any ideas.

Thanks.

Aff · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2011 Karma :

Relay driven off the interior lights with a switch that bypasses it?

So a SPST with a switch that bypasses the pins or a SPDT with the unenergised position having a switch in it.

:edit: Bad paint diagram

so for the SPDT:

https://imgur.com/QN4rbge.png

And the SPST:

https://imgur.com/4umQX0V.png

Obviously with the battery in the "lights" part of the circuit.
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Current Bikes:Honda 929RR Fireblade, Honda CD200 Benly (Project), Stomp Z2 140
Electric Bike Project

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

I'm loving the swanky leather clad Van dude, with downlighter's, proper nice for a Transit van, and rather posh but cool! Laughing

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

That van is fucking amazing Laughing

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

Not got round to doing the lights yet, but today I did do this:

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10341762_10152422543805606_3981720174922179609_n.jpg

Head unit is epic. Rear screen shows the DVD at all times. Front can be swapped between DVD and Sat-Nav.
You can also make the rear speakers play the DVD constantly while the front speakers mute out when it wants to give Sat-Nav instructions.
Really good bit of kit.

And a side view from the TV to show how flush it is

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10364081_10152422574715606_3575928666369483356_n.jpg

bamt · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Karma :

Two diodes are what you need, assuming that the interior lights are switched on as normal (permanent live, switched ground).

Connect one side of the lights to the permanent positive as normal.

Then, on the negative side of the new lights, use one diode to connect to the existing door switch and another diode to go to your new switch that is just for the new lights.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3706/14254097056_c1a09be64e_o.png

Aff · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2011 Karma :

bamt · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Karma :

Thinking about it, D2 isn't needed; just connect the new lights straight to the new switch. You still need D1 to isolate so that you can turn on the new lights without the standard ones coming on (D1 blocks that) but if the standard ones come on then the new ones come on via D1.

Obviously make sure D1 is rated for the current of the new lights.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Uncle Bobby B baby...

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

So I need to disconnect the earth from my 'new' lights, and put a diode in there, flowing from the light, to the earth.

Then add a secondary switched earth, from my new lights, to the chassis.

bamt · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Karma :

That's it - assuming that the earth the diode goes to is the switched earth from your other lights, not just straight to the chassis.

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Beer fridge, and nice comfy fold up bed sofa, and I'd want to live in there TBH! Thumbs Up

Nb · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2005 Karma :

binge · Emo Kiddy Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

It's just a cheap Alba / Toshiba thing from Argos I guess, which I pulled all the guts out of.
Most modern LCD teles run 12v now, with a transformer for the 240v plug in.
It's not a bad screen. Takes a while to load up, and I dont have the remote for it, so I've got to click through the source menu each time I want to get it to AV for the DVD player. But it does the job, and I got it for free.