The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 3rd brake light added?

Strictly for added safety, I am considering adding a 3rd brake light to my '48 Chevy 1/2 ton p.u.'s 6V electrical system. I really do not want to take away from the stock look of the truck. I envision using an l.e.d. strip and am looking for any recommendations on pursuing this project. Has anyone done this with their truck? Thoughts on the following:

1) placement of light
2) wiring run
3) vendor
4) price

Photos of one installed on a A.D. truck would be appreciated.

Thank you.

LUKE

I put one on my 70. I got a strip light from J.C. Whitney. It is a LED. I dont know about the 6 volt thing though. It is stick on so I only had to drill 1 small hole for the wire. I tried to fish a wire to the instument panel but couldn't do it. It might be easier on your AD. I used one of the wires to the dome light & hooked the dome light to a toggle switch. I hooked the brake light wire to the wire off the stop light switch at the turn switch junction & used a low amp. fuse in it.

I picked up a STOP light on ebay a few years ago and rigged it last summer to work on my '38 coupe. I made a stand for it to place on my package shelf. My '38 has a single tail/stop light so I guess it's my "second" brake light. The harness I bought was set up for two tail/stop lights so I just ran a wire from the RH brake light circuit to the STOP light and put a high output bulb in it. Although they're getting a bit pricy any more I see STOP lights on ebay all the time.

I've seen this site suggested
...link...

6 or 12 volt

Held on with cups so you can remove at shows and use while driving.

this is where my third brake light is:

3rd brake light

it was placed in the stakes i bought from a fellow 'bolter and i wired it to the brake light switch directly so it would be unaffected by the directional signals..

Here is a picture of mine. From a period big truck original glass lens. It get's lot's of attention at the stop lights which is just what I hoped!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129182883/in/set-72157631867396207
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129084374/in/set-72157631867396207

These different ideas are appreciated. I need to sort through my options before the new driving season sets in next Spring

Merry Christmas to all!

Happy new year, Luke!

This is the one I'm planning on using. It's a c.1920s Protex Lamp. I need to paint the inset part of the lens and I'm still not sure where I'm gonna mount it.

http://rustyfiftyone.com/2012/02/23/fun-stuff-pt-trois/

Is anyone out there using the "Brakelighter" as posted by DADS50? Just wondering about your satisfaction and the installation. Thanks.

LUKE

I think the led strips look way out of place on an old truck, but that's just one opinion, here's mine. That was daylight in a darkened garage, at night it really pops.

Regards,

Cosmo

Can you share a close-up picture in the daylight of what you are using, along with how you have it mounted? Thanks.

Luke, I know you're trying to stick to original stuff but since you're considering a third brake lamp for safety reasons this might also be of interest. ...I assume you are using glass lenses on your tail lights... you might consider switching to the 21cp bulbs, if you haven't already, and the repop plastic lenses. I found the plastic lenses allow significantly more light to pass through and when paired with the 21cp bulbs are more than adequate for day and night driving. Plus they'll look more original than a third brake lamp.
Just a thought.

Here's a comparison of the two...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericdifate/6321986157/

Thanks for looking out for me. I have added the 21cp bulbs and have bought a pair of NOS plastic lenses. I am pleased with both additions. However, I just can not stand the thought of a rear-ender on one of my road trips here in Michigan!

Just went down to take a couple pictures of my new and improved version . These are two individual license plate lights. My wife was driving behind me one night and said the third (and fourth) brake lights were fantastic...they're directly in your field of vision. In fact, because they are license plate lights they 'pop' the white college plate I have making the whole assembly a foot and a half of high visibility. I realize that my solution is not for everyone but it is very functional and unlike most, if not all, I am a daily driver only vehicle.

Regards,

Cosmo

Luke:
I have one of these Brakelighter units installed on my '37 Half Ton. I chose to only use the suction cup mounting option since I sometimes show the truck as "mostly original". I like the added safety and several of my buddies have commented they like the brightness and added visibility for my braking or turn signals. I will add one to my '46, when I get to that stage.

Before I bought it I heard some comments that the LED lights would reflect off the back window and be a distraction. I have not noticed that as a problem. It might be because of a difference in the glass shape between a truck and car?

Look at this...this is a removeable light. Put in your rear window while on the road and remove it when you do not want to use it. Requires no alteration to your truck, but you will have to work on the 6v/12v issue. You may contact them to see if they can accomodate you with a 6v version.

http://www.brakeflasher.com/brake_al.htm

Says right on the page you linked to "It only draws 100 ma, and it operates on 6 and 12 volt electrical systems, positive or negative grounds."

I might have to look into one of these. I like the plug feature and magnets.

Brad...that stop lite is so cool. Where oh where did you find it

Dogface - Not sure where Brad found his but I got mine on ebay. Some are old bus, police or ambulance lights, and others are intended for general automobile use. I've found the general use ones tend to go pretty high as far as cost so I hunted around for a bit and snagged this one for under $100

It's a c.1921 Protex Signal -
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6924279335_7be8101d08_z.jpg

Here are some photos of what I decided to do with adding a 3rd brake light--safety was my main objective, along with maintaining a vintage look:

http://s160.beta.photobucket.com/us...mp;_suid=1362925456609046217878436328036

I appreciate all the suggestions that came my way, both in public and via PMs. This is absolutely the best on-line forum for us Stovebolt hobbyists...a great group of people willing to help one another with info. and ideas.

Keep on truckin'...now if we can just get the snow, ice, and salt off our Michigan roads--fixing potholes would be appreciated too!

Looks good and is a Great Idea!!!! I like it!!!

That's pretty cool. Thought about doing something similar myself, but manged to get this instead. It's a NOS Hollywood Accessory Model 544 Safty Lite. I plan to mount it on the front bed panel, similar to how yours is mounted.

I like the signal function of the brakelighter



easy to install also

I think you guys have a good idea here. Stock tail/brake lights are just too small. There are tons of neat ones on flea bay to look at...some more affordable than others. I'd hate to get rear ended too...

Would you consider using a Harley taillight ? They are period correct but would require mounting on the roof. I bought one to mount on my suburban but changed my mind. It looks like the panel barn door lights, but have a curvature that usually mounts on a fender. I think you can get LED lights for them too.

Blue: Mine looks similar..just found it on ebay a couple days ago for $80 (ouch) bit it does look vintage cool. It has not arrived yet but from the pics appears to have some kind of sheet metal bracket and a wire or two coming out the back in a metal loom thing. I guess I'll need to find the Pos brake feed coming into one tail light to get it to work. If you recall what color that brake lite wire is it'll save me some time/testing... Mine, I think will mount on that center bolt hole on the bumper like Brad did. I love the idea of adding an extra since the OEM ones are so small. We don't have much traffic in this small town but it's better to be as safe as possible...and still look vintage,..

HOW WOULD YOU MOUNT THIS ONE?

It operates hydraulically when you are turning and operates as a tail/brake light when signal is off.

Ok...so here is my stop lite bracket..back view. I want to put some rubber grommets between the housing and the bracket to absorb some of the motion/shock, etc. My thought is that the screws going down into the lite housing will provide the ground even though the rubber is between the housing and bracket. Am I right on this ?

http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/Dusty411/media/Stop_zpse0f2654c.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Here's the front

http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/Dusty411/media/stop1_zps29590ec3.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

you'd need to add a ground wire, from under the rubber against the case to where the bracket mounts to metal, aside from the screws being totally insulated from the bracket, the threads into the case will corrode enough to give ground problems before long .... the other way would be 2 wires into the light, the hot one and a ground that terminates on the frame under the bed

Bill

Thanks Bill
I had considered adding that ground wire and will do . I figgered it might be added insurance, but never thought that the screw holes would corrode that much.

Edit: I do know, however, that faulty grounding is a major cause of elec. issues in all vehicles.

Here is a link to 2 pictures of the new and improved version of my 3rd brake light:

http://s160.photobucket.com/user/st...amp;_suid=136529696109300613151999808082

It is a reconditioned 7" Grote model 250 with a glass lens. The bucket had to be cleaned up, the glass lens was a caked mess of grime, and the stainless steel ring needed some attention. It should provide better visibility than the 3rd Guide taillight that I had originally installed.

I really do appreciate the ideas and advice that everyone has provided.

That looks Great!

I like it...looks a lot like mine from an old school bus.

You did a nice job on the rails too

I want to add a third brake light like Dogface's.

I have a turn signal that uses the brake light as a brake light and a turn signal.

Can I just run another wire back from my brake switch to the third brake light.

Appreciate the help

I would think that the best way but I'm far from really knowledgable on the subject. I found mine on flea bay just searching for 'vintage stop light'

No reason for it not to work that way. that's how I'm going to wire mine up.
A little tip for hunting for vintage stop lights on Ebay; don't limit yourself by just searching "vintage stop light". Do a search in vintage parts using "stop light" or "vintage lighting". You would be amazed at what you might miss by just doing one type of search. I found mine by searching "vintage lighting", it never popped up when I searched for "vintage stop light" or "stop light".

Just copying others great ideas

Third Brake Light

It works great

I used bed-hole LED lights: http://www.classicparts.com/Misc-Lamps/products/122/2/0. I also wired them as turn signals as well as brake lights.
don

I fitted one in my back window I also opted to fit LED tail light and amber bed roll turn signals at the rear.
Admittedly European lighting regs are slightly different to the USA.
I'd rather sacrifice a little originality in the interest of safety.

I masked off the area on the glass and used glass primer to form a black surround then stuck the light to the window with 3M double sided tape,only one hole was drilled for the ground wire and the live was fed through a grommet to my brake switch and is easily removed if I ever need to.

Here is mine. Got it from Speedway. It's called the Cat's Eye.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v518/Blacktailer/1949%20Chevy/IMG_5602_zps268da294.jpg