Third Brake Light Wiring

[TimC]

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

[Pmullen503]

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.

[QueticoBill]

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.

[TimC]

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.

[Tom&Shelly]

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!)



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.

Tom

[saltydawg]

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.

[Sparksalot]

Not sure why you just don’t intercept the brake line. It is separate from the left and right signal.

[tony.latham]

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

Me too?

Tony

[TimC]

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.