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Conversion of 5 Wire to 4 Wire Taillight system for Towing

This forum will archives technical threads that are unique to Eagle Buses. There will be one thread for general comments, but the technical threads will be locked. The intent is to have a repository for detailed technical information that can be of prime importance to an Eagle Bus Owner. New threads can only be created by the forum administrators.
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beltguy
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Site Admin
Posts: 2663
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:39 am
FMCA #: F246286
Bus Model: 1985 Eagle 10 with Series 60 and Eaton AutoShift 10 speed transmission (SOLD)
Location: Evergreen, CO
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Conversion of 5 Wire to 4 Wire Taillight system for Towing

Post by beltguy »

There are often threads on other bus forums that discuss this subject. Indeed there is an active thread on BCM right now.

In 2009 I experienced my upteenth failure of a commercially available converter (photo below).
After Market Converter.jpg
That prompted me to fabricate a homebrew converter made with automotive style relays. I had observed information/systems built by Craig Shepard, Sean Welch, and Jack Conrad. Ultimately I documented my conversion in an article published in Bus Conversions Magazine. I have uploaded that article on our website: http://eaglesinternational.net/category/articles

As background information, Eagles (and most buses) have turn signal lights separate from the brake lights. This results in a five wire circuit. Virtually all trailers and cars have the turn signal lights combined with the brake lights (4 wire system). As a result, a converter is required. The circuit designed with relays is much more reliable than most commercial converters. It is fairly easy to construct and the parts are fairly inexpensive. Indeed, the original Eagle relays can be used.

The article has two wiring diagrams. I have attached the diagram I made for my system.
Attachments
Trailer 5 to 4 wiring.pdf
(261.28 KiB) Downloaded 945 times
Jim Shepherd
Evergreen, CO
'85 Eagle 10 with Series 60 & Eaton AutoShift 10 speed transmission SOLD
2005 Dodge 2500 with 5.9 Cummins and 6 speed manual 2022 Sunset 28 foot trailer
Bus Project pages: http://beltguy.com/Bus_Project/busproject.htm
Blog: https://beltguy.com/Travelogue/
Email: eaglesinternational.email at gmail.com   NOTE this email box is only for general correspondence related to the forum and not technical advice.  Technical questions will not receive a response.
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akroyaleagle
Club Member
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Posts: 486
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:11 pm
FMCA #: F180747
Bus Model: 1978 Model 05
Location: Sioux Falls, SD

Re: Conversion of 5 Wire to 4 Wire Taillight system for Towi

Post by akroyaleagle »

I burned out several of those before I smartened up and just added another pair of lights to all my trailers.
Joe Laird
'78 05
Sioux Falls, SD
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