Light Switch Functions

HingsingM37 · Post by **HingsingM37** » Tue May 26, 2009 3:40 am

Hello Gang,

As I dive into my wiring I realize that I being new to the MV world I really have no idea what lights should operate in relation to the switch positons or what they mean.

So far I have wired the brake lights which operate when the lever is in the "service stop" position. Is this correct that no brake lights should function without a switch on?
I take it the lock lever is a safety feature to avoid accidental light operation while blacked out?
Is there somewhere in the manuals that illistrates the lighting functions? Thanks

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Tue May 26, 2009 1:55 pm

David,

Yes there are not lights when the light switch is in the off possition. The serivce stop light will give you brake lights and turnsignals if you have them. The service drive position will give you head lights. On the right hand side the lever one click to the left will give you the black out marker lights and two clicks will give you the black out drive light.

The lever to the lower left will give you panal lighte on the dash and the yes the lock is to keep you from going to headlights with out moving the lever.

If you can find a new -10 operators manual it should have all the information there for you.

HingsingM37 · Post by **HingsingM37** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:29 am

Thanks Joe

peter e mark · Post by **peter e mark** » Sat May 30, 2009 3:07 am

Hello All, And what is a "-10 mamual"? Is there a diagram somewhere that identifies each terminal on this 3 lever switch?

MSeriesRebuild · Post by **MSeriesRebuild** » Sat May 30, 2009 5:57 am

peter e mark wrote:Hello All, And what is a "-10 mamual"? Is there a diagram somewhere that identifies each terminal on this 3 lever switch?

-10, (the last 2 digits in a string of #'s) manuals are the operator & operator maintenance manuals. This pertains to all M Series vehicles, there will be other digits preceeding the -10 based on what vehicle it is. Shows all things pertaining to operation & maintenance issues that are the drivers responsibility. Usually all this is contained in a single book, but in some cases it's 2 separate manuals.

The switch terminal diagram is shown in the wiring diagram. This is in some -10 manuals, most often the complete wiring diagram will be found in organizational maintenance manuals which pertains to Co mechanics. Anything an average driver should not address won't be found in a -10 manual. The operation procedure for the switch is in the operators manual.

peter e mark · Post by **peter e mark** » Sat May 30, 2009 7:14 am

Thanks Charles...

HingsingM37 · Post by **HingsingM37** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 3:51 am

Just got my August issue of MV Magazine. Very informative (and timely for me) article on blackout light systems and functions. I never knew that the blackout lights appearance changed with distance in order to gage spacing between vehicles. I thought they were just "dim lights". Very interesting

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:48 am

Yep...some real science went into the devolpement of the black out lights. They do work well, but the BO drive light still wont shine much past a foot on the truck. All you can do is stay focused on the vehicle in front of you and that's about it.

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:56 am

The b/o light setup was a great innovation... ...as long as the guy in front of you doesn't drive off a cliff or some other nonsensical thing. Down at Ft Irwin in 1977 we were tactical marching one night and one of our gammagoats rolled because the half-asleep driver didn't see the vehicle in front of him do the dog-leg left turn, so he continued ahead, angling at a 45 degree angle up an embankment, then right on over on it's side. Our hero.... (No it wasn't me

)
Gary