Community Forums

hstansel · 06-23-2018, 04:01 PM

I have an Air Force One braking system on my Newmar Ventana. Everything is great on the braking system except I can barely see the braking indicator light on the dash of my F-150. It works properly but is barely visible, especially in bright sunlight. I would like to change this tiny light with a small flashing LED light like what is used on emergency vehicles. Has anyone ever put a brighter light on your dash so you can easily see it in your rear camera?

Santa_Claus · 06-23-2018, 04:16 PM

I am trying to wire mine to use the brake controller pin in the 7-way to light an LED on the motorhome dash. Something isn't wired up right, though, as it did not work on our maiden voyage. But this seems a better way to go to me.

The Brews Cruise · 06-23-2018, 08:05 PM

I have the SMI Stay in Play duo braking system, made by the same company as your Air Force One system. I use the company's Wireless Coachlink brake indicator light which sits on the dash of the coach. Plugs into the 12 volt power port and receives the signal from the toad's brake controller indicator light output.
https://www.demco-products.com/rv-to...less-coachlink

I later found a spare wire in the Newmar wiring harness that comes from the trailer plug in connection all the way to the front of the coach, below the dash and right next to the parking brake on my Canyon Star. (Google was my friend here). I think it's a blue wire. It would be possible to use this to hard wire from the brake indicator output on the toad, to the trailer plug-in and up to the dash where it could be connected to the indicator light strip that would otherwise be mounted in the toad.

Captjake1 · 06-23-2018, 08:57 PM

There is great info on this link. http://www.irv2.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310241
I just finished mine up yesterday. Just haven't had a chance to test it as the campground we are in makes me park my toad remote.
Total cost was around $20. Transmitter receiver. A 12v to 3v step down transformer to power the 'clicker' and an led light.

hstansel · 06-24-2018, 04:09 AM

Thanks for the feedback, Santa Claus. I thought about wiring my brake light indicator to the MH but have no idea how to find the wire under the MH dash. Also didn't want to have another wire to plug in on hooking up the toad.

l1v3fr33ord1 · 06-24-2018, 07:24 PM

hstansel-

According to the documentation I have, Newmar has wired the "blue" trailer electric brake controller wire from dash to coach hitch connector for many years now.

Newmar also typically provides two "spare" wires , one each orange and black, as spares between the dash and nearby the hitch connector. One or both are usually used to hookup a 12V charge line, as that is something Newmar doesn't seem to connect up for you.

I could be incorrect. You need to confirm all of this for your coach.

If the "blue" wire is already connected at both ends, it would be the logical choice for you to use if you want to put a brake activate light on the dash (if you didn't choose one of the wireless solutions proposed). I have done that for both of our coaches.

Arkansas RV · 07-01-2018, 09:17 PM

Very true on the existence of a black and orange wire at the rear. Mine is a 2000 DP. One word of caution is and this was from Newmar; trace which ever wire you are going to use at the plug back to where it enters main harness plug as the wire color changes. In my case the orange wire entered the harness plug but on the other side it was black all the way to dash. Incidentally all Newmar wires are numbered and have the function listed on the wire.