EMERGENCY !! (flashers...)

Hi all,
I'm basically working from scratch on the wiring of my CMC-wide, and have a question about E.-flashers. I bought a toggle switch for the job, but hooking up both flasher switch hot's to one toggle will cause the turn signals to actuate on both sides. My contrived solution is to use individual relays for each flasher from the E.-toggle switch. This will isolate the turn signal switch from the E.-toggle switch.
Does anyone have a better way?? To me, it seems like too many devices under the dash; two relays and two flashers. I'm open!
-Time

I hooked up the wiring. Make 2 pig tails from the turn signal wires on the indicator switch. You need to cross the wires to a switch. I had a small pull swith over the steering wheel. No when I pull the switch the turning indicator on one side is activated. When I turn the signal handle to the opposite site, a 4 are flashing.

So you need to cross over the wires to the pull switch. Awesome....

Thanks for the help, and I thought those interested might muse at my results. As noted, I hooked up two relays and two flashers. The results are that the turn signals flash really really fast, but even funnier is that the e-flashers are out of synch.! They start the same, but quickly go hay-wire, flashing quickly and out of phase!! I had to laugh!! :) I hope I don't run out of wire before I get this one done, and I still have windshield wipers to do :0 I guess the rule is flasher before switch, as I read Bill's comments...
-Time

To add 4 way flashers, locate the two wires that come out of the column that are the positive feeds for the left and right turn signals the wires will be black/white and the other will be black/green. Purchase a single position pull type switch from your local auto supply store. Add two eight inch "pigtails" of wire to both terminal screws on the pull switch.
Locate the pull switch out of sight just under the dash.
On the 66-67 signal switch used by Vintage Speedsters, connect one wire "pigtail" to the black/white wire on the column and the other wire "pigtail" to the black/green on the column. To check the operation of the now installed "four way flashers" pull the switch to the "on" position ( this crosses over all left, right front and rear turn signals into one) move the turn signal lever to the left or right position....this actuates your four ways they are operational!

Alan M.

I did this, I found it again on the knowledge area. This was a snap and worked extremely well. You should only use one relay since you need the lights to flash at the same time. Try this.

Mike and Alan:

I looked at that and scratched my head - will this WORK? Tried drawing out the schematic and was still wondering so I prototyped it on my bench (had switches and lights and flashers all over the place) and the damn thing works great!!

Now I wish I did that instead of using the 1970 VW stuff that I had to spend hours on to make it all work right!!

Tim: Use Alan's method from the knowlege section - "works fine, lasts a long time"

Alan, Gordon, Mike,
Good comments. This system is so simple, it's got me counting the cost of all of those discarded lugs and wire snippings! A couple of comments though. 1) I wasn't intending on flipping the turn signal to get emergency flashers. Could be a problem if someone else is driving the car if/when E-flashers are required. 2) With the supply for the flashers being the auxiliary circuit, then having the key in is required to make the flashers work. Not a problem UNLESS you have to leave the car somewhere while you hike for gas!! -I know, I know; these are situational problems not technical ones. I must be loosing my engineering head!!
-Time

Tim: You need a single pull/double throw toggle switch. The switch has six spade terminals on it. Speaking from memory, mine is wired like this.

Unswitched 12v. from fuse panel to one side of flasher

Other side of flasher to two center terminals on the toggle switch.

One of the bottom terminals from toggle switch taps into left signal lights

Other bottom terminal of toggle switch taps into right signal lights

Two top terminals are open.

BD

PS. Check the knowledge section also for other ideas.

Tim: You're right on Point#2. I used unswitched 12v. to the flasher. I changed my post above. Mine work without the key on.

BD

In production vehicles the 4 ways,brake park/tail lights are mated to unswitched a power source.

Thanks to all that have posted positive coments about doing the 4 ways "Alan's Way!"
Alan M

Tim:

If you are concerned about having to use the turn signal switch to activate the 4-way flasher, here is another possible solution:

Take an unswitched, properly fused 12 VDC source and run it through a simple on/off switch (SPST). Connect two blocking diodes to the output of the switch. The output of each diode would then be connected to the respective left and right flasher inputs. The diodes must be connected so that the arrow on body points in the direction of current flow.

The purpose of the two diodes is to isolate the left and right turn signals from one another (so that when you give a left turn signal, the right side does not also blink, etc.). I have used 1N4004 diodes for blocking applications, and they are good for about 3 amps max. and sell for about 25 cents each. You'll have to determine the amount of current each side draws when selecting the correct diode...you may need a higher rating.

Since I have never looked at an actual automobile wiring diagram, this is only a suggestion to investigate if you want a simple, mistakeproof setup. Perhaps someone with more automobile experience will comment on the practicality?

Oops!

In re-reading the previous posts, I think my approach is simply the same as Tim's original idea, except I am using diodes for isolation instead of relays. Thus, the two flashers will still get out of synch, so I give up! I vote for Alan's way!

guys,,GUYS !! Your thinking "simple", and "cheap", while I'm thinking "complicated" and "expensive"...What's the problem here!! Here's what I did using the parts I had, and it works as described;
Parts - two flasher switches, one single throw toggle switch, one VW turn sig. switch, two relays
Flasher one gets switched power from the fuse block, aux. circuits. It's output goes directly to the turn signal supply, and through the switch to either left or right lights.
Flasher two gets unswitched power from the battery, and supplies the toggle switch. The toggle output then branches to each relay, one left one right, both supply power and switch terminals. The relay output then gets spliced into the lights on each side of the car.
The relays are actually the isolating mechanism, so to Brian's comment, properly sized diodes would work fine here, but are MUCH too cheap, small, and simple.
Now, operation is like a production car; E-flashers without the key or turn signal switch, and signals only when the key is in aux, or ign. position. Eureka! All I have to do is replace the flasher I smoked when I hooked the ground to the wrong terminal...duh
Actually, two driving forces are at work. ONE; explaining how to operate the E-flashers to my wife, and TWO; I already had bought the parts or had them lying around.
-Tim

BTW; I wouldn't get within 100-yards of this finished product if it were an airplane :0