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Camper Exterior Compartment Lighting and Notification Warning


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itjobhunter 
Member - Posts: 5
Member spacespace
Joined: February 02, 2005
Location: United States
Posted: June 01, 2021 at 12:14 AM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote itjobhunter
Hi everyone, I'm at a complete loss here - I don't even know where to begin to search for what I'm looking for! LOL!
Here's what I'm up to... I bought an ambulance that I'm converting to a camper, and some of the ambulance functionality is very useful and I'd like to retain it. For example, when any of the 9 or 10 exterior compartment doors are opened, a magnetic switch would ground a circuit, which powered LED's in the compartment! I removed all the circuitry (it was a giant wall sized PC board that did tons of stuff), and I need to build my own simple controller now. In addition to the respective individual compartment lights coming on, I also want to have 2 red LED's illuminate when any of the compartments open. One of the LED's would be on the dash (to warn me that a compartment is open somewhere before I drive away), and the other by the exterior side door (as a warning before locking up the truck and going for a hike or something). The idea seems really simple to me, but the execution completely eludes me! If anyone can get me moving in the right direction, I'd sure be grateful, and I'm not an electronics guy, so please keep the responses simple! :)
i am an idiot 
Platinum - Posts: 13,666
Platinum spaceThis member consistently provides reliable informationspace
Joined: September 21, 2006
Location: Louisiana, United States
Posted: June 06, 2021 at 3:40 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote i am an idiot
Do you have the circuits figured out for the individual lights inside the compartments? If so, post a diagram of what you have. This will be a simple solution for you. I will be able to add onto your diagram. It will take 10 diodes and the 2 additional LEDs.
itjobhunter 
Member - Posts: 5
Member spacespace
Joined: February 02, 2005
Location: United States
Posted: June 09, 2021 at 2:49 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote itjobhunter
I don't guess I have a diagram, but each door has a magnetic switch with very lightweight electrical wire (22ga), and each compartment has has LED lighting installed. All of the wiring is hanging free, so nothing is connected, all legs are available and accessible.
A friend suggested using Arduino or Rasberry Pi to control everything, but I haven't researched what those things are yet. Either way, I'm looking for as simple a solution as possible. Diodes sound easy :)
i am an idiot 
Platinum - Posts: 13,666
Platinum spaceThis member consistently provides reliable informationspace
Joined: September 21, 2006
Location: Louisiana, United States
Posted: June 09, 2021 at 10:10 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote i am an idiot
If the LEDs are 12 volt, power to each LED, Ground of each LED goes to the magnetic switch. At this junction point, you also want to connect the Banded end of a diode. Do this on every compartment. Connect the non banded end of all the diodes together. This wire will go to the ground of both of the warning LEDs. Apply power to the power side of both of the warning LEDs. Ground the other leg of the magnetic switches.
If any of the LEDs are any thing other than 12 volts, put a 1000 ohm 1/4 watt resistor between power wire and the power leg of the LED.
1n4001 through 1n4007 diodes will work fine.
itjobhunter 
Member - Posts: 5
Member spacespace
Joined: February 02, 2005
Location: United States
Posted: June 15, 2021 at 8:50 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote itjobhunter
The LED compartment light strips draw too many amps for the magnetic door switches to carry as the ground - they are super tiny, maybe 22 or 24ga. I also want some sort of circuitry to turn on the 2 additional red LED lights to warn me that a compartment is open somewhere. I think I might need a Rasberry Pi or Arduino setup to make this work. It seems so simple in concept! LOL!
i am an idiot 
Platinum - Posts: 13,666
Platinum spaceThis member consistently provides reliable informationspace
Joined: September 21, 2006
Location: Louisiana, United States
Posted: June 16, 2021 at 9:58 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote i am an idiot
If you want to get a controller go for it. But this will be an easy project taking 10 relays and 10 diodes and the 2 warning LEDs.
itjobhunter 
Member - Posts: 5
Member spacespace
Joined: February 02, 2005
Location: United States
Posted: June 20, 2021 at 3:57 PM / IP Logged Link to Post Post Reply Quote itjobhunter
I dug through all the electrical components I had removed, and I think I've been able to isolate the needed circuitry from the ambulance build. I'll play with it and make sure!

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