Brake lights without Exhaust brake

[Roadking]

Ok, please don't flame me on this, but is there a way to cause the brake lights to only come on when the foot tredle/brake pedal is applied and not come on when only the exhaust brake is activated? This would cause the brake lights to function similar to the way a semi-truck functions. I have read the posts about the "latch mode" but my understanding is this affects the way the exhaust brake functions and does not affect the brake lights. I have read a fuse can be removed in the rear bussman box on some chassis, but I have not been able to locate a rear bussman box in my MM chassis. Any ideas?

[RickCA55]

On our 2002 Dutch Star/Spartan MM chassis I removed a relay in the electrical box in front of the drivers firewall. I was told to do this by Spartan.

You might call Spartan and ask them.

It worked well for us.

Rick 2002 DSDP 3852, Spartan MM, Cummins ISC 350, '98 TJ Toad

http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/rickca55/

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2090792

[KIX]

Roadking, the bussman box on your UA is on the firewall forward of the engine. Best way to access is under bed remove the access panel. I think it's gray in color but I don't have a great memory either.

[AFChap]

Quote:

cause the brake lights to function similar to the way a semi-truck functions.

Is that really how the brake lights on semi's function??? I've noticed running down long hills that many semi's are showing brake lights while coasting -- I always assumed from their speed and not noticeably slowing that it indicated their jake brake was functioning...

The way my toad is set up, with a Roadmaster Brakemaster braking system, when just the exhaust brake is applied the normal brakes lights come on on the coach, and just one on each side of the toad. When I press the brake pedal hard enough to trigger the Brakemaster, that adds the third brake light on the toad -- enough for those behind to notice that more braking is happening.

Even with that, I would be interested in knowing if there is a simple way to stop brake light activation with the exhuast brake (since our exhaust brake does not brake the coach all that much like a true Jake brake will). My preference would be to have a switch I could trip in the cockpit, as I do sometimes combine manual downshifting with the exhaust brake in city traffic and might want to brake lights to be working then. If you contact Spartan and get a good answer (probably the best place to go!), please come back and share it with us!!