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Old 09-24-2016, 12:37 AM   #1
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Lighting Switches?!

Im trying to figure out what controls the inboard overhead lamps.


The switch to the left (orange/red color) is a 3 position(off/on/on) and trips the outboard overheads, in alternating sequence. The red indicator light flashes in the sequence.
The middle position does nothing.

The switch to the right is a 2 position (off/on) and also trips the outboard overheads, in alternating sequence. The red indicator light flashes in the sequence.

I cant get the inboards to work. Am I missing something?

Im going to blank off the inboards and want to use the wiring and switch for my offroad lights.

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Old 09-24-2016, 12:44 AM   #2
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Heres my build!
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Old 09-24-2016, 06:18 AM   #3
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are you talking about the yellow school flashers?

in most busses the yellows were triggered when the school door is closed and sometimes the parking brake disengaged..

the bus driver as was slowing down would trigger the flashers with the switch thay would light the yellows.. when the bus would stop and the door opened the reds would come on until the door was closed and that would cancel the reds..

if a driver made a mistake and forgot to trigger the reds, they could open the door and trigger them directly..

in the newer busses the schools wanted to enforce having the drivers apply the parking brakes during school stops, so the yellows wouldnt turn to red until the door was open and the parking break applied.

if a driver activtaed the flashers and wanted to cancel they could hit the switch down to cancel.

even more fancier variants were an auto mode where anytime the bus slowed to a ceertain speed the yellows would turn on.. then go to red when the bus stopped and opened the door.. if a driver hit the yellows, didnt stop and then sped up the yellows automatically cancelled..

theres all kinds of variants out there... I dont know which yours has.. but it is most generally a sequence of some sort.

-Christopher
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Old 09-24-2016, 12:10 PM   #4
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Wow, that gets complicated quickly! Thank you cadillackid!
I was sure I had tested all the lights and they worked, but yesterday I could only get the outer set (red) on, the inner set (amber) would not trigger. Im pretty sure I have the simple version, amber with door closed, red with door open.

I plan to use the outer set with amber lenses when I am double parked for loading motos, since the rear door blocks the right side reverse/run/brake/turn lights. The inner set is getting blocked off and the wires will be labeled and abandoned.
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Old 09-24-2016, 12:59 PM   #5
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i think also if you have a handicap door and it was open it might go directly to red also... it was that way on my bus.. at least I think since I had wires going from the handicap door up to the "weldon 8000" which is a school bus flasher light control.. your bus probably has one stuffed in a panel somewhere..

-Christopher
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Old 09-24-2016, 05:25 PM   #6
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Thanks Cadillac!
No handi-door on mine.
I confirmed the amber switch to the left is tied into the front passenger door, door closed/switch on = inboard amber lights & amber indicator; door open/switch on = outboard red lights & red indicator. This circuit will go away, redundant for my purposes.
The right/grey switch just trips the outboard red lights & red indicator. This is the one I will keep and use.
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Old 09-24-2016, 05:37 PM   #7
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if you find a weldon flasher controller dont take it out unless you are going to build a different flasher mechanism as that device actually flashes the lights... but you could easily make some other wig-wag type device if you want and ditch that controller.
-Christopher
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Old 09-24-2016, 08:39 PM   #8
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The switch for the interior overhead lights is on the bottom row, marked INTERIOR.

If you want the OUTSIDE inboard lights to run AMBER, just swap the lights. Make sure you change the STOP sign lights to a YIELD and put AMBER lights on them as well.
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Old 09-25-2016, 02:45 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptSquid View Post
The switch for the interior overhead lights is on the bottom row, marked INTERIOR.

If you want the OUTSIDE inboard lights to run AMBER, just swap the lights. Make sure you change the STOP sign lights to a YIELD and put AMBER lights on them as well.
I wasnt looking for the interior, those are working.
The stop sign and lights are already deleted, not legal in Cali and I have no alternate purpose for it.
I'm deleting the exterior inboard flashers. The exterior outboard flashers will be amber LEDs front and back.
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Old 09-25-2016, 11:45 AM   #10
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Do you have a master flasher / door control unit like a meldon 7000?
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Old 09-25-2016, 12:17 PM   #11
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Do you have a master flasher / door control unit like a meldon 7000?
Yes there is a Weldon flasher unit above the driver. Why?
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Old 09-25-2016, 12:30 PM   #12
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All the wires from the "school bus flashing lights" go to that unit. You can Google it and get the manual for it.
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