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Old 10-27-2015, 01:53 PM   #1
29er
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Default Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

I've been watching ebay for vintage brake lights, thinking about adding one as a 3rd brake light to my coupe, which has a 6 volt system. But many of the lights for sale are 12 volt.

Knowing very little about the miracle of electricity , I wonder whether these 12 volts lights can be made to work with my 6 volt system .

Does anyone know of a detailed description for boneheads like me of how to convert a 12 volt light to a 6 volt light?

Mike in Oregon
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Old 10-27-2015, 02:31 PM   #2
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Default Re: Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

if the 3rd brakelight is using a standard light bulb just put the 6v equivalent bulb in its place.
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Old 10-27-2015, 02:33 PM   #3
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Default Re: Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

If it is an LED, you will have to get it in 6-volt from the get-go.
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Old 10-27-2015, 03:53 PM   #4
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Default Re: Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

I just used a repo 6v tea cup tail light and mounted it above the spare tire. All I did was splice it into the wiring harness and it works great.

Mike
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Old 10-27-2015, 04:01 PM   #5
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Default Re: Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

Mike is this your car?
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Old 10-27-2015, 04:04 PM   #6
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Default Re: Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

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yep that is my car
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Old 10-27-2015, 04:20 PM   #7
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Default Re: Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

Looks good. The pic is from the Roundup a few years back in Pleasanton. In case you were wondering.
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Old 10-27-2015, 04:41 PM   #8
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Default Re: Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

Thanks guys. The lights I'm looking at have the standard incandescent bulb, not LED's. So, you're saying all I need is a 6 volt bulb (and maybe a replacement socket if the 6 volt bulb doesn't fit the existing socket). No need to change out the wire pigtail to the light? I think I can handle that.

BTW, Mike: that's a nice set up!

Mike in OR
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Old 10-27-2015, 04:48 PM   #9
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Default Re: Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

If it has the typical round socket, you should be able to get a 6-volt bulb easy enough. Once you get the bulb out there should be a number on it that will cross to the same bulb only 6-volt.
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Old 10-27-2015, 05:39 PM   #10
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Default Re: Electricity 101: 3rd Brake Light

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1930artdeco View Post
I just used a repo 6v tea cup tail light and mounted it above the spare tire. All I did was splice it into the wiring harness and it works great.

Mike
I did the same thing, but I used an LED tail light.

Last edited by 29spcoupe; 10-12-2017 at 06:55 AM.
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