LED break lights "Solved"

[Tonyvdb]

On the XII the 1157 break/running light bulbs work as normal. Once I change them over to LED they only stay one intensity and don't drop down to running light mode. Are the sockets wired backwards meaning the break light setting is actually the running lights?

[ekap1200]

On the XII the 1157 break/running light bulbs work as normal. Once I change them over to LED they only stay one intensity and don't drop down to running light mode. Are the sockets wired backwards meaning the break light setting is actually the running lights?

It would be easy enough to test, Using a test lamp. attach the alligator clip to a good ground or neg batter post and probe the pig-tail contacts with the bulb removed. One will light the test light with key-on / engine on, the other contact will turn the test lamp on with the brake switch depressed... the connections under the trunk may have been not connected correctly by someone who had the trunk off.
Have to ask. does the new led lamp have two contacts on its base ? One for tail , one for brake... Any auto supply store will carry 12 volt test lights for about 10.00 or less. hope this help you out.. Gene K.

[Tonyvdb]

Yes, two contacts on the base of the bulb.

[ekap1200]

Yes, two contacts on the base of the bulb.

OK, had to ask, now test for positive at the pig-tails and post what you find there. .Also use some jumper wires and test the LED lamps, make sure they are good, even if they are new. From that you will also determine which pin does what on the lamp, so you will know what pig-tail contact is supposed to be tail and brake lamp.

[krasmu]

it's not uncommon for many of the OEM light sockets to be wired backwards because incandesent bulbs don't care which way the power runs. LED bulbs do. My guess is either the socket is wired backwards and has the brighter side lit with the running light circuit so you won't see the blinker flash because the bulb is already lit to it's fullest. OR. When I switched my bike over, the 1157 bulbs I chose had a very small difference in brightness between the run and flash inluminations. When I looked closely, I could see that they were in fact flashing but not enough difference between them to readly see. I ended up soldering a 2amp X 50 ohm resister into the running light side line, before the bulb. This dimmed the running light side down to the perfect brightness to see a definate flashing of the turn or brake bulbs.

[Tonyvdb]

Solved!

So yes, the sockets are wired backwards. The break light is actually the running light circuit. I reversed the two +wires and now they go dim and bright as they should. The bulbs I have also have a great feature in they flash of and on 3times before going bright.

[ekap1200]

[krasmu]

[wsm 1]

Tell me how you did this?

[Tonyvdb]

After removing the break light assembly there are the two individual break light bulb holders and I simply reversed the two hot (positive) wires that go to the sockets. Soldered the wires and used heat shrink to protect the wire.