Show me your custom external/running lights

[aswallie]

I'm looking for a bit of inspiration and I'd love to see what you've done with your running lights, or any exterior lights for that matter. Has anyone ever wired their running lights into their ignition? Key on, lights on, with a switch to turn them off if need?

[Mountain Gnome]

Originally Posted by aswallie

I'm looking for a bit of inspiration and I'd love to see what you've done with your running lights, or any exterior lights for that matter. Has anyone ever wired their running lights into their ignition? Key on, lights on, with a switch to turn them off if need?

Use a relay. The ignition key activates the relay, the relay sends power to the lights. The lights will likely use more wattage than the ignition circuit is designed for.


You could also use a SPDT switch between the key and the relay. In one position the switch feeds power from the key to the relay to activate it. In another position, the switch feeds a battery (+) signal to the relay to activate it (so you can turn the lights on without the key on). Or you can turn the switch to off, and have no running lights.

[aswallie]

A great idea, thanks for the suggestion!

[Mountain Gnome]

I was just thinking I would recommend an indicator light on your dashboard somewhere. Put it where it won't reflect off the windshield at night and obscure your vision. Look for one that isn't too bright, either, or your face can reflect in the windshield (at least one poster here would like that ). Or, if your dash lights are on a dimmer switch, you could add another relay for it, and power the indicator light from the dash lights circuit; but that could interfere with a main reason to add the light in the first place: to help you remember the lights are switched manually "on" when you park and leave the bus in the daytime.