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Gunslinger
Joined: Sat Nov 4th, 2017
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A couple of new challenges have come to light that I had not previously considered. One of which isn't particularly difficult, and makes me glad I ordered some stuff I figured wasn't completely necessary, but was cheap enough.
First up, I didn't realize it at the time, but that 3rd brake light w/ turn signals is expecting a combination signal input, like what's found on 2000+ rangers. My 99 still has the signals separate from the brakes, and that's how it's gonna stay. That means I need to put together a little module box that I can feed my brake, left, and right, into and it will spit out a combination signal. A schematic for that shouldn't take me more than 10 minutes to come up with, or I could see what someone else has already come up with if I don't feel like reinventing the wheel. Or make my own and then look it up to see if I made the same design others have.
Second, I couldn't resist trying out that sequential turn signal kit. So, I grabbed some spare lights and jumper wires. It did as you'd expect, but it made me consider something else I hadn't thought of. This kit has 3 wires in, and 3 wires out. There's an optional 4th wire in, but that's for a setup that involves brake lights, which this is going on the front. So, null.
3 wires in = tail, turn/brake, ground.
3 wires out (in 3 sets) - tail, turn/brake, ground.
Nothing fancy, or complicated, really. Except for whatever weird reason they made white ground and not black. That's a pet peeve of mine when there's black there as well. Guys, black is standard for ground! Leave it that way! (ahem)
For the two 3157 lamps in the signal, that's no issue. Cut the harness, solder in the box, go on with one's day. But.... off in the corner, there's a 194. That's only two wires. On, or off. No high or low.
So, what's a guy to do? I've come up with 4 options.
1. Ignore the tail on the corner, and simply have it illuminate ONLY when turn signal is activated. This option feels sort of..... as if one were to only use a portion of his/her hindquarters to complete the task, if you will.
2. Make an adjustable current circuit w/ diode, which effectively dims the 194 at half it's brightness on Tail, and Turn bypasses it for the signal's duration, giving the impression of two intensities.
3. Find a minibulb which has 2 intensities and can be made to fit in the same footprint as a 194. I'm not sure if one of these even exists for an automotive application, but I'll look anyway.
4. Add a lamp to the housing. SBL makes "bolt lights" which take a small footprint, and gives an option for illumination in tight spaces. Picture a 1/4 or smaller bolt with a 5mm LED sticking out the threads and you have the idea. This is my least favorite option, as there's high potential for damaging the housing and allowing moisture to get inside.
Out of all of these, #2 is my personal favorite, probably because it make something so simple so over-complicated in 15 easy steps.
Off to the internet.
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1999 Ford Ranger XLT - 3.0 V6 4x4 - Loaded (Totaled) 143k. Rest in Peace, Gold Dust.