Third Brake Light Wiring

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Third Brake Light Wiring

Postby TimC » Sat May 29, 2021 3:16 pm

I didn't realize until installing it that the third brake light that my son's TD is using needs some type of converter to keep it from flashing with a turn signal. Is there a way to wire this without a separate converter?

It is a two wire LED third brake light with just on and off function. To get him on the road today I wired it to flash with the left turn signal. He's OK with that but I don't know if it will cause any problems with the light down the road.

Thanks, Tim
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Re: Third Brake Light Wiring

Postby Pmullen503 » Sat May 29, 2021 4:03 pm

I don't know of some kind of device that will do what you want. I suppose you could wire both sides with diodes in the line to isolate the two sides.
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Re: Third Brake Light Wiring

Postby QueticoBill » Sat May 29, 2021 4:26 pm

I'm guessing I did not find anything you didn't, and perhaps less, but think you need a converter. You could put two lights on - adjacent, and wire left to left, etc.
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Re: Third Brake Light Wiring

Postby TimC » Sat May 29, 2021 4:39 pm

Thanks Pat and Bill. Before he hit the road today he said wire it to flash with the left since on the highway that's a common lane change warning. Not sure I agree with that but as long as it doesn't do damage to the light it might be ok.
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Re: Third Brake Light Wiring

Postby Tom&Shelly » Sat May 29, 2021 4:53 pm

TimC wrote:I didn't realize until installing it that the third brake light that my son's TD is using needs some type of converter to keep it from flashing with a turn signal. Is there a way to wire this without a separate converter?

It is a two wire LED third brake light with just on and off function. To get him on the road today I wired it to flash with the left turn signal. He's OK with that but I don't know if it will cause any problems with the light down the road.

Thanks, Tim


I needed a converter for ours because our turn signals are separate from the brakes (orange vs red). (And no, I didn't realize that until way too far into the process!)

164842

I think you need the same converter, or a different 3rd brake light that incorporates left and right turn signals. We used a Tekonsha 118158 "2-wire to 3-wire solid state tail light adapter" (now built into the hatch):

https://www.crofttrailer.com/content/drawtite/N118158.pdf

Can't remember if we bought it from e-trailer or Amazon. The instructions said it only worked for incandescent lights but it works fine for LED lights.

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Re: Third Brake Light Wiring

Postby saltydawg » Sat May 29, 2021 6:01 pm

You could always get a 3rd brake light that also does the turn signals.

I have a the 2 to 3 wire converter due to the type of tail lights I wants, so that is an option as was stated.
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Re: Third Brake Light Wiring

Postby Sparksalot » Sat May 29, 2021 6:10 pm

Not sure why you just don’t intercept the brake line. It is separate from the left and right signal.
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Re: Third Brake Light Wiring

Postby tony.latham » Sat May 29, 2021 6:36 pm

why you just don’t intercept the brake line...


Me too?

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Re: Third Brake Light Wiring

Postby TimC » Sat May 29, 2021 7:00 pm

tony.latham wrote:
why you just don’t intercept the brake line...


Me too?

Tony


Me neither! Of course I don't know what "intercept the brake light" means. Teach me ol' wise one!

The wiring harness (flat four) is running lights (brown), left turn/brake (green), yellow (right turn/green) and a dedicated ground wire to all lights (no chassis gnd).

Edit...

ok, I'm going to assume you think I have seven conductors with a brake actuating "line" rather than a brake light line. Not the case. No brakes.

And the light is installed and now in Milwaukee and I am four hours north. So sticking with the light that is installed is the practical thing to do. Just asking if there is a work around for what is installed and if having it wired as described can damage the light.
Tim
Niagara, WI
My First Benroy Teardrop Build Thread - A 5x8 Woodie - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63575
My Second Teardrop (partial) Build Thread - Started August '16 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=66939
#3 My son's Benroy Foamie team build - Started July '20 - http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=72877

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