Buzzer with flasher feed

[cranetruck]

For all you people who can't stand the sound of the buzzer, but still want it connected.
Use a turn signal flasher unit to make it go beep...beep...beep..., much less annoying.
The hook up will require the purchase of a matching connector to wire into the flasher. Part number is MS3106A16-10S and the clamp is MS3057-8A.

 

[m139h2otruck]

Great idea!!
I just used Saturn's warning light kit (about $12) and disconnected buzzer. Using the flasher with the light would be even better. Or for the really paranoid, use both with the flasher.

 

[cranetruck]

You can take it a step further and get a turn signal buzzer out of it too, the buzzer sounds off when the turnsignals are used using only one flasher unit, what's shown above implies that a second flasher unit is used.

Play with the parts, just remember that the new flasher units don't handle short circuit load very well.

 

[Rattlehead]

Bjorn, being the electrical guru, do you by chance know the rating of the turn signal flasher? I wonder if it is worth installing a circuit breaker in line to it, though it should have some sort of overcurrent protection built in.

I made up some towing lights and used some aftermarket LED trailer lights just for the purpose of not drawing more current than necessary off the system. Don't have a trailer to worry about yet.

 

[cranetruck]

The original solid state ones (ca 1965), used a heavy duty SCR to do the switching and was able to handle a short circuit load until a circuit breaker (CB) would trip. The CB is the 20 amp one built-in in the 3-lever switch. They were labeled 10 amps for capacity. The newer units, ca 2000, use Radio Shack parts and use a transistor for switching, they are not labeled for capacity. They will pretty much blow immediately when a short circuit is encountered, although I beleive some may have a token protection built in.
I let the flasher unit drive a relay, so that there is no problem with overloading it. The relay handles heavy loads and will trip the CB without harm.

 

[Jones]

How about this idea?
We've got several trucks set up with normally on (NC), momentary toggle or push-button switches marked "Alarm Silencer". During start-up you push and hold the toggle or push-button switch and the buzzer is cut out. After the air builds up you release it and then, if you have an air loss, the buzzer works as intended.

 

[cranetruck]

The 757 came from factory with this "kill switch" on the dash...
Item #12 in the image.