wiring tail light

Redheadrider · 02-23-2014, 05:59 PM

Hello can someone help me. I am installing a new tail light which only has two wired red and black, but the stock harness has three wires? Anyone who has done this mod please guide me in the right direction! Thank you

X10bws · 02-23-2014, 07:44 PM

Only 2 wires? Your new tail light won't have brake light then. The stock one has 3 wires because 1 for tail light, 1 for brake light and 1 for ground.

grasshopper · 02-23-2014, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redheadrider

Hello can someone help me. I am installing a new tail light which only has two wired red and black, but the stock harness has three wires? Anyone who has done this mod please guide me in the right direction! Thank you

can you post a picture of the tail light with the view of the wires?

Redheadrider · 02-23-2014, 10:05 PM

Has anyone ordered an aftermarket light that had Three wires? Or is there a way to wire the three to the two?

Water Warrior 2 · 02-23-2014, 10:30 PM

You likely have a single element bulb and socket. Can you remove the socket and install a socket that will use a 2 element bulb. Then you will have 2 wires for the bulb and another for grounding the socket base.
If the tail light is quite small it may not provide enough room for the larger 2 element bulb needed. Give it some thought before tearing it apart, you may just need to get a different tail light to make the job easier and less frustrating.

raul10141964 · 02-23-2014, 11:57 PM

the factory light use the black/withe wire as ground and the new one use the frame
connect the b/W wire to a metal part on the housing of the light then test the 2 wires the dime is tail and the bright is brake

alantf · 02-24-2014, 05:35 AM

Yes, seems like you bought a tail light only. The only way to go is to buy one with a tail light/brake light. There's no way you can use the one you bought if you want a brake light as well.

raul10141964 · 02-24-2014, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul10141964

the factory light use the black/withe wire as ground and the new one use the frame
connect the b/W wire to a metal part on the housing of the light then test the 2 wires the dime is tail and the bright is brake

open the light an check. if the bulb have 2 filaments this connection will work

Redheadrider · 03-05-2014, 08:38 PM

I called the place I ordered it from, it grounds from the housing mounted to bike the two wires it has is for running and the other was for brake. My camera is down other wise I would get pics for you thanks for the help

02-23-2014, 05:59 PM	#1
Redheadrider Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Fishers, Indiana Posts: 7	wiring tail light Hello can someone help me. I am installing a new tail light which only has two wired red and black, but the stock harness has three wires? Anyone who has done this mod please guide me in the right direction! Thank you Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-23-2014, 10:30 PM	#5
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	You likely have a single element bulb and socket. Can you remove the socket and install a socket that will use a 2 element bulb. Then you will have 2 wires for the bulb and another for grounding the socket base. If the tail light is quite small it may not provide enough room for the larger 2 element bulb needed. Give it some thought before tearing it apart, you may just need to get a different tail light to make the job easier and less frustrating. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

02-24-2014, 05:35 AM	#7
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Yes, seems like you bought a tail light only. The only way to go is to buy one with a tail light/brake light. There's no way you can use the one you bought if you want a brake light as well. __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.
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02-23-2014, 07:44 PM	#2
X10bws Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 21	Only 2 wires? Your new tail light won't have brake light then. The stock one has 3 wires because 1 for tail light, 1 for brake light and 1 for ground.
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02-23-2014, 10:05 PM	#4
Redheadrider Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Fishers, Indiana Posts: 7	Has anyone ordered an aftermarket light that had Three wires? Or is there a way to wire the three to the two?
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02-23-2014, 11:57 PM	#6
raul10141964 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Elkhart, Indiana Posts: 369	the factory light use the black/withe wire as ground and the new one use the frame connect the b/W wire to a metal part on the housing of the light then test the 2 wires the dime is tail and the bright is brake
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03-05-2014, 08:38 PM	#9
Redheadrider Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Fishers, Indiana Posts: 7	I called the place I ordered it from, it grounds from the housing mounted to bike the two wires it has is for running and the other was for brake. My camera is down other wise I would get pics for you thanks for the help
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