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Re: Brake Lights

To: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Brake Lights
From: Tom Howard <thoward@sdcoe.k12.ca.us>
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 12:43:34 -0700
At 02:27 PM 10/11/96 -0400, you wrote:
>In a message dated 96-10-11 11:44:11 EDT, PVANDAL@aol.com writes:
>
><< Does anyone know the reason why my brake lights do not work when my lights
> are turned on?   They work fine with the lights turned off >>
>
>I had a similar problem with the left turn signal on my TR3.  It turned out
>that the leads for the ground wire and the running light were reversed.  When
>the headlights were turned on, it would light both filiments of the bulb, and
>then the directional didn't work.  This would then feed through to the rear
>directional, which is a seperate light on the TR3.  Use a tester or observe
>the stop light filiment in the bulb to see if the stop light is lighting up
>when the lights are on and the brake pedal is not depressed. 

This make a lot of sence.   The Brake light filement is much bigger for the
brighter light.  If the current were running through both filements in
series only the small tail light filement would glow because it would act to
limit the current through the whole circuit due to its higher resistance.

It might payoff to take a really good look at the grounding for the tail
lamps.  Make certain that the common connection (the brass skirt) of the
bulb is at ground and the two solder/lead beads are connected to the voltage
for the correct lamp function.




Thomas Howard
LUSD, (619) 390-2627
('72 Triumph GT-6; and a good bit of USA iron)


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