Back Up Alarm-Update

[Dreamscape]

I purchased a back up alarm a few weeks ago.

Where and how did you wire, mount and hookup yours?

Keep in mind I have a manual tanny.

I was thinking of wiring it into the switch that controls my backup lights with a light telling me it's on. Any thoughts?

Paul

[Busted Knuckle]

Well Paul you could do it that way. But even manual transmissions have switches for reverse to activate the back up lights. If it were me I'd use that switch to active a relay and run both the alarm and the lights off it. And then use your existing switch as a manual over ride for the lights for when you need "work" or "hook up" lights in the rear! That way when using them as "work" or "hook up" lights you won't have an annoying alarm going off! FWIW   BK 

[Len Silva]

I chose not to use a back up alarm as they can be so obnoxious, especially in a campground after hours.  What I did was to install a small car horn in the rear with a button up front.  A couple of "beep beep"s before backing serves to warn people.  It also came in handy for communicating with my "back up assistant" before we got radios.

If you go with an alarm, I would definitely have a way to disable it when you want to.  I so rarely back up these days without someone back there to help.

[Busted Knuckle]

Excellent point Len, but he's already bought the alarm. Now though thinking like you did about the back up alarm at night. He could make his override switch a dpdt and make it where he could let it make a cpl beeps before disarming it and still use the lights! FWIW   BK 

[Dreamscape]

I agree Len, I don't want the alarm on everytime I back up. That's why I had the idea of using my back up lights that I installed in my camera pod.

BK, Your thoughts are right on, but my 01 did not originally have backup lights. I have checked the schematics and it's not listed anywhere. My reverse switch/solenoid is only engaged from neutral to reverse (second), then I release the switch. This is according to Da Book!

Any other ideas out there?

Paul

[Lin]

Dreamscape,
     Your last acknowledgment was meant for Len.  You could just wire the backup alarm to its own switch.  Turn it on or off as you want.  I bet that you can find wires already in place that are blank.  I just wired my new tach using the Gen telltale light wire since that system has been altered.  I ran the wire from the alternator into the rear box and connected it to the stud (after removing the extra connectors, of course).  The other end was marked and waiting at the dash.  I love when things work like that.

[luvrbus]

Paul, the 01 had backup lights after 1962 they replaced the center tail light good luck

[FloridaCliff]

Paul,

Normally they are hooked up to the reverse light.

If you don't have one, this may be a good time to add one to see the rear corners at night.

If I installed one, I would put it on a momentary switch to just give a few seconds of warning and turn off.

I like some others really HATE all those excess noise makers. (opinion)

Meep, meep, meep and Good Luck,

Cliff

[Bob Gil]

Paul if you remember the old metal clangers?  I got one for an old truck but there is no way of turning it off so it sets between my feet here in the floor so i don't have to hear it all the time.

Good Luck with you decision.

Bob

[HB of CJ]

I have NOT read the prior posts, sosssss if I repeat stuff....sorry.  Might be best to wire your back up hooter/beeper via a relay and wire it up thru the tranny reverse gear/back up lights contact.

Reason is it may be best not to disturb the back up light circuits.  Might create a situation where the beeper affects their operation or brightness-or the beeper volume.

Also using the tranny site will let you have the option of having indicator lights showing the thing is working, plus the option of turning it off at need.

However, remember the first iron clad rule of safely operating our Bus Conversions is to never, never back up.  Then...if you have toooss, always have a spotter helping you out.

If I had to sneak out of some campground on a dark and stormy night without paying my space bill...(he he he) I would want a quiet get-a-way....not a "beeping" beeper thing. 

[Dreamscape]

Thought you would like to know I hooked it up.

I found a spare wire in the rear electrical panel, wired it to a on/off switch in the front with fuse. The switch is lighted with a blue LED, so I know it's on.

I just like to have the extra feature, you never know when I may choose to use it.

It's rated at 102db, .3 amp draw.

I always do a walk around and if it's real difficult I have my wife out back keeping an eye out. My back up camera does have sound so I can hear her Yelling at me.

John Vickers (roadrunnertex) gave me a great reminder. G.O.A.L. Go Out And Look!

So if you hear a beep beep beep it might be me, so watch out!

Paul

[Busted Knuckle]

Thought you would like to know I hooked it up.

I found a spare wire in the rear electrical panel, wired it to a on/off switch in the front with fuse. The switch is lighted with a blue LED, so I know it's on.

I just like to have the extra feature, you never know when I may choose to use it.

It's rated at 102db, .3 amp draw.

I always do a walk around and if it's real difficult I have my wife out back keeping an eye out. My back up camera does have sound so I can hear her Yelling at me.

John Vickers (roadrunnertex) gave me a great reminder. G.O.A.L. Go Out And Look!

So if you hear a beep beep beep it might be me, so watch out!

Paul

Paul I have to admit the first time I saw that it was GOALS!
And a company I was fixing to lease 2 tractors onto made me & the safety directer take one of their tractors and trailers out for a road test!

(Which I thought was hilarious in the first place. Because I wasn't going to drive either of the units I was going to lease them. I already had hired drivers in those 2 trucks, who lived near the company. And they had asked me to look into placing them with that company so they might get home regularly!)

Anyway as the safety directer and I rolled out onto the HWY I kept noticing the large while letters GOALS! at the bottom of both mirrors! I finally asked what it stood for? Well he didn't hesitate or even blink an eye when he said "It means GET OUT AND LOOK STUPID!" Oh I started LMAO! He asked what is so funny? I asked him "do ya really thing telling them to look STUPID is going to really make them want to do it?" To which he replied "no IT DOESN"T MEAN TOO LOOK STUPID. It means to LOOK, STUPID!" Again I was ROFLMAO! When he said why is that so funny to you? I told him "the last thing most truck drivers I know of is going to put up with is some DUMB A** sitting up in an office somewhere calling him STUPID and putting it on his mirrors as a CONSTANT reminder!"

Well the next time I saw it, on a different companies mirrors the "S" had been taken of and has been every time I have ever seen it since!

  BK   

[JackConrad]

  When we reskinned the back of our bus, we threw away the small OEM back-up lights.  We installed 2 driving lights in holes we cut in the rear bumper. Since the OEM switch for the back-up lights was a pressure switch in the reverse circuit of thye automatic transmission, the only time the light could be on was when engine was running and the transmission was in reverse. 
  We wanted to be able to use back-up lights when connecting the toad, shoreline, etc.  Like others, we wanted a back-up alarm, but not everytime we turned on the back-up lights. Our way was to install a double throw, center off switch on the dash with a flashing red LED indicator light. Up is back-up lights and alarm, down is back-up lights only.  Just our way, YMMV.  Jack