led taillight problems
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4th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: n.e. Ohio
led taillight problems
I bought a LED smoked laydown taillight off of Fleabay, Of course it doesn't work correctly, but I can't figure out why. I hooked up the ground wire and the running light wire, and everything worked correctly, but as soon as I connected the brake light wire the running light went out, but the license light stayed lit! when I energized the Brake light circuit, it worked correctly! I dont understand why the running light goes out. The same thing happens if I ground the brake light wire.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 763
Likes: 15
From: New Jersey
Yea go through the wires again and make sure they're connected to the right ones. Sounds like your canceling one another. What brand LED did you get. I bought the kuryakyn smoked low profile but it was plug and play.
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: n.e. Ohio
the light has 3 wires, a brake light, combination running light and license light, and a ground. I wire streetrods and muscle cars for a living, never heard a light circuit, led or otherwise, that didn't have a power and ground wire..... neither circuit in this taillight works without the ground wire connected.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Southern New Jersey
I use LEDs every day. No grounds needed for 12 volts. Obviously something is not right. I know polarity plays a huge part with LEDs . Check your leads under the seat.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 46
From: In the foothills of southwestern NC - US of A
Huh? All circuits need ground no matter what the voltage. Even if a ground for some reason all of a sudden doesn't exist [through a broken wire or corrosion] the circuit will search and "find" ground through another fixture causing problems such as other lights on the same circuit lighting/blinking dull. The light fixtures that don't have a separate ground wire to attach to an earth ground do so through the fixture to earth ground.
We need a picture or schematic of this fixture and it's attached wiring to figure out what's going on. It may very well be that the wiring is not as expected or the fixture is not as described. Maybe the wiring is fubar'd on the guys bike? Who knows!
This is one reason why I never get anything off of eGay...I've heard too many stories of guys getting hosed with inferior stuff, and to me it's worth paying a little more for things from a reputable seller than taking a risk with off brand iffy stuff, just to save a few $$? Either way I hope the OP gets it running proper.
=8^)
We need a picture or schematic of this fixture and it's attached wiring to figure out what's going on. It may very well be that the wiring is not as expected or the fixture is not as described. Maybe the wiring is fubar'd on the guys bike? Who knows!
This is one reason why I never get anything off of eGay...I've heard too many stories of guys getting hosed with inferior stuff, and to me it's worth paying a little more for things from a reputable seller than taking a risk with off brand iffy stuff, just to save a few $$? Either way I hope the OP gets it running proper.
=8^)
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Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: n.e. Ohio
I agree, I usually don't buy the junk off ebay. the factory wiring is untouched, just 3 wires going to the light socket, one for the running lights, one for the brake light circuit, and a GROUND! lol I tried every possible combination to get this LED crap to work, with no success . I have a open case on Ebay to solve the case, but still know there is some internal wiring issue with this light, I reinstalled my factory light amd it works as designed. I wire LED turn signals in streetrod dashes all the time, with a 12 volt power source and a ground, so I know there has to be a design flaw that grounds the running light when you touch the red brake light wire to the red brake light wire on the LED light.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 46
From: In the foothills of southwestern NC - US of A
I agree, I usually don't buy the junk off ebay. the factory wiring is untouched, just 3 wires going to the light socket, one for the running lights, one for the brake light circuit, and a GROUND! lol I tried every possible combination to get this LED crap to work, with no success . I have a open case on Ebay to solve the case, but still know there is some internal wiring issue with this light, I reinstalled my factory light amd it works as designed. I wire LED turn signals in streetrod dashes all the time, with a 12 volt power source and a ground, so I know there has to be a design flaw that grounds the running light when you touch the red brake light wire to the red brake light wire on the LED light.
=8^)