Electrical Engineering - After market warning lights. Question?

Author

After market warning lights. Question?

littledino24@aol.com

2006-04-23, 11:21 pm

Quick question to those with electrical knowledge (not me). I am very
handy with mechanical work with cars, but when it comes to electrical i
know nothing. I am looking to install a pair of aftermarket "wig-wag"
flasher, or a pair of rear hide-away halogon flasher system. I am
shooting to install them in the rear amber blinker housing, for
roadside warning when on construction jobs. My first question to you
are, which system would work better for my situation. A wig-wag
flasher system not for use for headlights but for my "blinkers" if
possable. or use a system similar to this product:
http://www.galls.com/style.html?XXX...=GR136&cat=2707

Id perfer the wig wag product only cause its cheaper, but what ever
advice you can provide would be great! please and thank you.

Also one more question, when i look at the wiring diagrams of some
products. it says connect the flasher system to the battery, but how
am i supposed to go about doing that?! i look under the hood of my 99
chevy malibu and only see 1 large red wire coming from the battery.
How do i connect it?! also wiring a fuse, what the deal with that?

Any answers to any of my questions will be of the upmost help to me.
also if you have any questions for me regarding cars, dont hesitate to
ask.
Thanks,
John p.

**THE-RFI-EMI-GUY**

2006-04-24, 11:21 pm

Personally I think the wig wags are cool, but check with your DOT to see
what types of lights they require contractors to use when working on
highway right of ways, that would be your safest "legal" choice.
Secondly, many GM batteries have side posts which are flush with the
battery case. Go to an autosound shop and get the adaptor needed to
extend a terminal. There are several types. From the same shop, get
hookup wire and fuse to match the system requirement, probably only a
few amps. You need to have a fuse near the battery terminal, because
should any of the wiring short, your car will be a "chevy del fuego". By
the way, newer cars have an accessory terminal near the under hood fuse
box. Be real careful, I have seen a few car fires.

littledino24@aol.com wrote:

>Quick question to those with electrical knowledge (not me). I am very
>handy with mechanical work with cars, but when it comes to electrical i
>know nothing. I am looking to install a pair of aftermarket "wig-wag"
>flasher, or a pair of rear hide-away halogon flasher system. I am
>shooting to install them in the rear amber blinker housing, for
>roadside warning when on construction jobs. My first question to you
>are, which system would work better for my situation. A wig-wag
>flasher system not for use for headlights but for my "blinkers" if
>possable. or use a system similar to this product:
>http://www.galls.com/style.html?XXX...=GR136&cat=2707
>
>Id perfer the wig wag product only cause its cheaper, but what ever
>advice you can provide would be great! please and thank you.
>
>Also one more question, when i look at the wiring diagrams of some
>products. it says connect the flasher system to the battery, but how
>am i supposed to go about doing that?! i look under the hood of my 99
>chevy malibu and only see 1 large red wire coming from the battery.
>How do i connect it?! also wiring a fuse, what the deal with that?
>
>Any answers to any of my questions will be of the upmost help to me.
>also if you have any questions for me regarding cars, dont hesitate to
>ask.
>Thanks,
>John p.
>
>
>

--
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

"Follow The Money" ;-P

Paul Hovnanian P.E.

2006-04-25, 11:21 pm

littledino24@aol.com wrote:
>
> Quick question to those with electrical knowledge (not me). I am very
> handy with mechanical work with cars, but when it comes to electrical i
> know nothing. I am looking to install a pair of aftermarket "wig-wag"
> flasher, or a pair of rear hide-away halogon flasher system. I am
> shooting to install them in the rear amber blinker housing, for
> roadside warning when on construction jobs. My first question to you
> are, which system would work better for my situation. A wig-wag
> flasher system not for use for headlights but for my "blinkers" if
> possable. or use a system similar to this product:
> http://www.galls.com/style.html?XXX...=GR136&cat=2707
>
> Id perfer the wig wag product only cause its cheaper, but what ever
> advice you can provide would be great! please and thank you.
>
> Also one more question, when i look at the wiring diagrams of some
> products. it says connect the flasher system to the battery, but how
> am i supposed to go about doing that?! i look under the hood of my 99
> chevy malibu and only see 1 large red wire coming from the battery.
> How do i connect it?! also wiring a fuse, what the deal with that?
>
> Any answers to any of my questions will be of the upmost help to me.
> also if you have any questions for me regarding cars, dont hesitate to
> ask.
> Thanks,
> John p.

My advice would be to steer clear of systems that use your existing auto
lamps. For this reason, I like the systems that have dedicated halogens
(or strobes) that install inside fixture housings.

Unless you really know what you are doing, a poorly designed or
installed 'wig-wag' system that shares brake or turn signal lamps can
cause them to malfunction.

There was a story some years ago about police cars equipped with brake
lamp "wig-wag" flashers that caused the auto transmission shift
interlock to malfunction. As a result, there were several instances of
cars not being placed into park and subsequently rolling away (over some
officers, IIRC).

--
Paul Hovnanian mailto:Paul@Hovnanian.com
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