Reflector to Turn Signal Conversion

[UnionJack]

Hi all,
I posted this question earlier, but possibly did not explain clearly enough what my intentions were. I am aware that there are now aftermarket kits that convert rear reflectors to lights. The problem is they only pigtail off of the existing circuit such that you end up with extra lights that function exactly like the originals just in a different location. This certainly makes sense from the stand point of more lights (and higher location) = more visible to modern traffic traveling behind. My problem is with the way the original circuit functions. I don't like the fact that the brake lights and turn signals share a single branch circuit. If I understand the circuit, the turn signals over-ride the brakes if both are on at the same time (not safe at all IMHO). What I wanted to do was to move the turn signals from the rear double filament lamp bases in the existing circuit to single filament bulb holders in the reflector holes and then run a new line from the brake switch (bypassing the flasher unit) back to the OEM brake lights. If you are looking at a wiring diagram, it would involve moving the existing White w/Purple and White w/Brown wires from the OEM brake lights to the new reflector lights (LH and RH respectively) and then disconnecting the Green w/Purple wire from the flasher relay and pigtailing off of it with a new wire back to the OEM brake lights.

Has anyone else attempted this type of conversion and if so, will it work the way I have described?

Thanks much,

Cas

 

[GregW]

Hi Union,
I’m not real familiar with the 100-6 wiring, but comparing that diagram with a BJ8 I came up with an addition. #23 (green/brown) from the flasher unit looks like it should be disconnected from pin 1 of the relay and attached to the green wire that runs up the steering column. Also remember that you would need to rewire the front turn signals (#18 & #21) in with the rear turn signal wires…I think. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif

 

[Johnny]

I really don't think you need to worry Cas. Many cars during that period used dual filament bulbs. The wiring is quite adequate to handle the type of amperage required.

The advantage is, when your brake lights go out you'll know it by the turn signal's not working properly. I highly reccommend the tail reflector conversion. I now notice people behind me actually "slow down" when I turn on my flashers.

 

[anthony7777]

gregw, when i built and installed mine i found that by leaving off one of the ground wires the upper and lower lamps worked intermittently up-down. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi all,
If I understand the circuit, the turn signals over-ride the brakes if both are on at the same time (not safe at all IMHO). What I wanted to do was to move the turn signals from the rear double filament lamp bases in the existing circuit to single filament bulb holders in the reflector holes
Cas

I believe the easiest way would be to leave the existing light wiring as it is & just add an additional wire from either the brake light switch or the flasher relay terminal 5 (same connection electrically) back to the two new high mounted lights.

When turning, the appropriate lower light would flash as original.

When stop/turning one lower light would be on solid & the other lower light would flash as original. At the same time, both of the new upper lights would be on solid as long as the brakes were applied.
D

 

[UnionJack]

Hi all,
First of all, thanks to Greg, Anthony, Johnny and Dave for your replies. After reading all of your comments, I think that maybe I have a misconception about how the OEM system works. Either that or I am still not explaining what I am attempting to do. Question for Dave: With the OEM wiring, when you brake and signal a turn at the same time, is it the brake light that flashes or the parking lamp? In other words, there are only three wires going to the rear lamps and one is a ground, which means that three signals (brakes, flashers, and parking lights) are being sent through the remaining two wires. Which lamp shares double duty with the flashers, the brakes or the parking lamps? Comment to Johnny: My concern was not the amps exceeding the capcity of the wires, I was just under the impression that the flashers and the brake signals were on a shared wire meaning that the brake lights would flash if the turn signals were on at the same time. This is the unsafe condition I was mentioning. I don't think it is safe for brake light to flash just because the turn signals happen to be on at the same time. It seems more logical that the parking lamps and brakes would share a single line. Or as I was attempting to do, separate them all so that each had its own wire and its own bulb. Please feel free to correct any misconception that I may have concerning the OEM circuit's function or the modifications I was trying to create.

Thanks again,

Cas

 

[Keoke]

Hi Union Jack, Yes you are correct and you will have to make all the modifications you mentioned to implement your desired scheme. Should you do so it still might be beneficial to add the lighted reflectors too.--Fwiw---Keoke

P.S. Greg, per his first post he is runing a new wire for the brakes.

 

[GregW]

Hi Cas,
On your rear left light the three wires should be: Black(#57)=ground, red(#41)=running lights, wht/purple(#14)=brake/left turn. Rear right would be the same for black and red but the wht/brown(#15) would be brake/right turn. #14 and #15 would be the brighter filaments. The problem you are facing is the brake and turn signal filaments are running off the same wire from the relay up front. Dave’s idea of running one new wire for the brakes seem the most straight forward. Maybe disconnect the green/purple(#22) wire from terminal 5 of the flasher relay and run your brake light wire back from there, the green/purple wire that is.

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi all,
Question for Dave: With the OEM wiring, when you brake and signal a turn at the same time, is it the brake light that flashes or the parking lamp? In other words, there are only three wires going to the rear lamps and one is a ground, which means that three signals (brakes, flashers, and parking lights) are being sent through the remaining two wires. Which lamp shares double duty with the flashers, the brakes or the parking lamps? ----------------- It seems more logical that the parking lamps and brakes would share a single line. -------------Or as I was attempting to do, separate them all so that each had its own wire and its own bulb. Please feel free to correct any misconception that I may have concerning the OEM circuit's function or the modifications I was trying to create.
Cas

The higher wattage lamp filament serves double duty as the turn & brake lamp. When turning only, no brake, this lamp flashes. When turning with brake applied, the brake lamp on the turn side flashes, the brake lamp on the non turn side stays on steady.

The lower wattage filament is for the tail lights only. They turn on only when the park lamps, both front & rear are turned on.

My suggestion was to leave the lower stop-turn-tail lamps as original & run an additional wire to light the new upper lamps any time the brake is on.

This arrangement - ie - braking while turning left - in the daytime, with park lamps off - would have the lower right brake lamp on steady, the lower left brake lamp flashing, & both new upper brake lamps on steady.

Since the parking & brake lamps have entirely different functions, they cannot share a single line.

You could go to the later BJ8 scheme which has no turn relay & does have additional lamps mounted, front & rear. A fair amount of rewiring would be involved.Check out the late BJ8 wiring scheme. There is a copy of it in the "Knowledge Base" section on this BCF site. I believe Greg put it there.
https://www.britishcarforum.com/lore/article.php?id=054
D

 

[Ed_K]

My suggestion was to leave the lower stop-turn-tail lamps as original & run an additional wire to light the new upper lamps any time the brake is on.

This arrangement - ie - braking while turning left - in the daytime, with park lamps off - would have the lower right brake lamp on steady, the lower left brake lamp flashing, & both new upper brake lamps on steady.

Since the parking & brake lamps have entirely different functions, they cannot share a single line.

You could go to the later BJ8 scheme which has no turn relay & does have additional lamps mounted, front & rear. A fair amount of rewiring would be involved.Check out the late BJ8 wiring scheme. There is a copy of it in the "Knowledge Base" section on this BCF site. I believe Greg put it there.
https://www.britishcarforum.com/lore/article.php?id=054
D

Union Jack,
There is another reason that you should follow Dave's advice
to leave the existing tail light wiring stock and simply run a separate circuit from your brake light switch to the modified reflectors, (if you want it to function separately from the taillights) . The load of tail light when in turn signal mode is required to operate the stock turn signal flasher. Without the load, you will have to replace the stock flasher with an after market electronic/ heavy duty flasher and make a provision to attach it to the firewall. They don't have a mounting tab as the stock BJ8 flasher has. Ask me how I know this ? .... Of course you can make it work anyway you want. This is just another problem that you will have to deal with if you don't leave the existing tail lights stock.
Ed

 

[Randy Forbes]

I plan to leave the original circuits intact, but mounting an additional L.E.D. stoplight.

What I'm looking for, is a billet aluminum license plate frame that incorporated the plate light AND brake light all in one unit. I forget where I had seen that, but that's the one I'd really like to use.

 

[Keoke]

Well OK Randy, if that's the way you want to do it. So take a look at"Signal Dynamics Corp" Products. While you are there look at their Brake Light Module too. Real cute little gimmick,also you might take a look at "Brand Sport" Products---Fwiw--Keoke