New to wiring, combine tail and brake lights in harness

[kkane97]

Hey guys, I have a question for the wiring gods of this forum. I am planning on doing a rear light section out of strip led's, my plan is to have 2 separate strips that act as both turn signals and brake lights. I have seen cars with this before, when they hit the brakes both "strips" turn on, but if they hit a turn signal while braking one "strip" flashes while the opposite is still solid. I imagine on a car this is controlled by the computer, but is there a way to do so on a motorcycle?

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

CArs just use fancy signal switches, though the newest cars have computers do it....

They sell adapters so that cars with separate brake and signal lights can use trailers with combine brake and signal.

Something like This: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MME-Tail-Light-Converter-4-Way-PL-100HD-4-/330958948131?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d0eb0c723&vxp=mtr

I used a device like this with my NH750 panniers. I put LED Brake/running light strips on, and used this to incorporate signals.

 

[ILoveThumpers]

On a car you're dealing with a BCM (Body Control Module) that can discretely switch any lamp on or off at will. When you're dealing with pure wiring, it gets a little more complicated.

What do you have to work with now? There are so many variations on switches and flashers it would be impossible to guess how to get this done without some more info... or are you starting from scratch?

If you already have the LED lights, a normal DPST blinker switch and a normal SPST brake switch, I can send you a schematic that should work.

 

[kkane97]

Would it work something like this? Excuse the shitty diagram

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

My 1964 Chevy Impala had combined Brake and signals. No body control modules, no engine control modules. Combined brake/signals have been around a LONG time.

It is only recently that the function has been turned over to a CPU.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

Would it work something like this? Excuse the shitty diagram

Yup...That is brake, turn....There is another wire for the running light, that gets wired the old fashioned way....

Let me rephrase this..The tailight wire does not go through the converter. The tailights are 12V steady, whether braking or turning...Only the brake lights get the converter. Your LED strip should have 3 wires. Ground, Brake/Turn, Tail light....That's what mine have.

The converter does not use the taillight wiring as that is not affected by the brake/turn

 

[kkane97]

Ilovethumpers, I am working with stock 1979 cb750 , but I am ok with redoing the rear end of the wiring to adapt to work with this. Can you send me some kind of schematic so I may understand more?

 

[kkane97]

where did you get your strips? I was thinking that maybe the converter had a sort of resistor on the tail circut thus dimming the lights and then full power for both turn and brake, so then a 2 wire strip would work

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

Here is the strip I used, from these guys:
http://www.rodworx.com/product.php?item=534

The LED strip is dual brightness, 3 wires.

You ground the one wire. One goes to tail light, the other goes to the brake/turn adapter.

They are Bright, DOT approved too...

 

[kkane97]

Thanks for the link, although I am still a bit confused, what is the tail wire for on that converter you first posted? And would this converter work aswell, seems to be a bit simpler to wire up and should work the same, cheaper too.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EP0GI6

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

Look carefully.

There are 3 inputs. STOP, Left Turn, Right Turn..No taillight input. You may or may not want the lights lit with the headlight. If you are only doing turn and stop, and not tail light, then don;t wire a tailight in.

There are 2 outputs. One to the left side stop/turn light, one to the right turn/stop light.

That will give you integrated turn and stop lights. You will not have a running light (Tailight)

The led assy I showed you has 2 functions. A reduced brightness running/taillight. An increased brightness Stop/Turn light. So 3 wires. Black=ground. White=running (Low) light, REd = Bright Stop/turn.

If you use a dual brightness LED like I posted, the adapter is only wired to the high brightness circuit.

Is this clear?

 

[ILoveThumpers]

Oh, wait... I didn't consider the tail light.

Let me make sure I've got this straight before I post anything:

You want a tail light at reduced brightness when the lights are on, but the lights you have don't have a lead for that?

- and -

You want those same strips to be full brightness when the brake is on.

- and -

You want the strips to blink with the turn signal switch?

If that's the case, I don't have a schematic for that. If you only want brake and turn on the LED strips then the Amazon part you linked to is the easiest way to get that done.

-Deek

 

[Schmitt]

You guys are confusing me... my '81 CB650C only has three wires running to the rear lights - taillight, brake light, and ground. I JUST finished retaping it.

I've cut out my turn signal flasher, fuse box, and horn. I don't understand how it works, but the brake light switches are wired straight to the brake light.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

Well, I think I can't help you much more than this. You don't want signals but you do want them. You removed the wires and want to wire signals.

I can see why you are confused. I am for sure.

I am stymied




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