3rd Brake Light Wiring

[Jacko]

This subject has been covered before but I couldn't find it ...

When 4915 comes home I'll be adding a third brake light to the louvers and my question is about the wiring.
How has other owners run the wiring for the light. It appears there is no way to completely conceal
the wire. I'm thinking about tapping into the harness somewhere in the right pontoon. Would I need to add a fuse
for this light?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Josh]

No need to add a fuse, especially if it is an LED third brake light. The current draw is so little it will be fine on the current brake like fused circuit. Something to put in would be a disconnect right by the light, so you can remove the louvers if need be.

[jmpdmc]

Jack,

On DMC-News, there is a PDF file link to the 'Zine from the 1990's: http://www.dmcnews.com/Techsection/Zine/zine001.pdf Page 22 has a procedure I used years ago and it works well. I believe the How To section here has some detailed instructions too.



Jeff

[EdR5150]

I ran my wires through the stainless, behind the finisher, and concealed all the connections behind the tail light housing - secured with duct tape! I added a fuse, so when a short occurs with the third brake light, only the 3rd bake light is affected, and not all my brake lights.

Third Brake Light Project in my blog: http://www.16908.info/?p=1161

http://www.16908.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/042410-2101-thirdbrakel102.jpg

[Farrar]

I pretty much did with Ed did, without the fuse. I fished the wire up the quarter panel taped to the end of an un-bent coat hanger, and added quick-disconnects right by the edge of the louvers so I can remove the louvers with the lights intact.

I used two light bars from JC Whitney:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoMqQx-SB_U

[David T]

I ran my wires through the stainless, behind the finisher, and concealed all the connections behind the tail light housing - secured with duct tape! I added a fuse, so when a short occurs with the third brake light, only the 3rd bake light is affected, and not all my brake lights.

Third Brake Light Project in my blog: http://www.16908.info/?p=1161

http://www.16908.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/042410-2101-thirdbrakel102.jpg

The fuse is added so if the wire to the third brake light gets cut, pinched, or otherwise grounded it doesn't blow the main fuse and you lose all of your brake lights. Has nothing to with the current draw of the third light. You can hide the wire till it gets to the underside of the louver. Use a watertight in-line fuse-holder and solder the connections. The fuse can be very low amperage (it just has to be large enough so the draw from the third light doesn't blow it). BTW, it is a VERY good idea adding a third brake light. Especially considering the reliability of the original taillight boards!
David Teitelbaum

[Jacko]

Thanks guys for the advice. I'm ready to tackle this project ... if I only had a car to do it on ...

[StainlessSteelDream]

I install Toby's 3rd brake light kit a couple years ago, it's the same basic idea, including the fused write running up inside the pontoon (and disconnects so you can remove the louver)

It saved me a lot of time trying to find nice LED bars locally
http://www.delorean-parts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=DPNW&Product_Code=K3002DP-A&Category_Code=9450