Questions on tail/stop/turn signal light colors

[Fred K-OR]

I have installed a complete new wiring bundle which included the turn signal option. I also installed aftermarket lights. The tail light is red, the stop lights are the amber and the turn signal lights are amber. Did I hook them up correctly or should they be different?

Thanks for the info.

[V4F]

mine are the same . the new cars made it ok to run amber for stop/turn ...... steve

[marc hildebrant]

Group,

Could someone let me know when the change to "amber" for stop lights happened ?

I'm wired for top/amber for stopping and bottom/red for lights. I always thought that that was backwards ?

Marc

[Bruce Adams]

I converted my amber brake light to red, using an ALL RED taillite lens since I figure its easier to conform to the world then to confuse drivers behind me.
I have never seen an amber brake light on a modern car.
This way, my taillite, brake light, directionals, and third brakelight LED all conform to what following cars are expecting to see.

[SteveM]

A 1960 BMW 507 has amber stop lights and red turn signals, so it would have been after that.

Steve

[Art Bjornestad]

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I installed LED tail lights and they have a split wiring system for turn signals. Brake light is amber, tail lights are red and turns are the same red but twice as bright. So at night your red turn signal shows twice as bright and blinking. Very effective.

[SteveM]

Art - from where did you get your taillights? How were they to install?

Did you have to do anything special to get them to work with the turn signal switch?

Steve

[Aerocraft]

The bottom light is the driving light, stop is on top. The change from all red lenses to amber on the top is generally considered a 1929 to 1930 model year change. I use LED lights which are red and turn the amber to red when lit.

[john hamilton]

My 1930 Packard has a red taillight and amber brake light. The inspection station (Texas) had to look it up in a reference book to establish that it was correct.

European cars started the amber color much more recently but they had a separate turn signal light whereas American cars used the same bulb for stop and turn.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by john hamilton

My 1930 Packard has a red taillight and amber brake light. The inspection station (Texas) had to look it up in a reference book to establish that it was correct.

European cars started the amber color much more recently but they had a separate turn signal light whereas American cars used the same bulb for stop and turn.

My 1950 Studebaker has seperate filaments for brake, turn, and tail lights. But, as you say MOST American cars had the same filament fro brake and turn signal.

[Fred K-OR]

Thanks guys for all the ideas and the way your rigs are set up. I think I will leave mine the way it is for now and maybe get a LED light to put up in the center of the back. Maybe someday I will change the glass to all red.

Thanks again for the comments

[Art Bjornestad]

I think I bought the tail lights from Bratton's, they were about $55.each and I bought the entire tail light. I used a switch that I drove from the spark advance lever ( Mallory dizzy) and used the park lights (put in brighter bulbs) in the headlights for the fronts. I used a $5 6v flasher from NAPA.

They work fine except for one problem, I can't find a buzzer loud enough to tell me when the signals are on...anyone have any ideas? I tried Radio Shack but what they stock is not loud enough for my old ears.

[SteveM]

Originally Posted by Art Bjornestad

I can't find a buzzer loud enough to tell me when the signals are on...anyone have any ideas? I tried Radio Shack but what they stock is not loud enough for my old ears.

Huh, what was that? Speak up a bit. :-)

Know what you mean,

See if you can find something called a "Sonalert". They are loud, piercing sound devices. Not a buzzer, but it will get your attention.

I think this one is the same type of device:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062395
75 db. Should be enough to get over the sound of an A.



And it's even 6 volts!

You could also get a relay and just wire it up so that the power runs through the normally-closed side of the relay. That will turn it into a buzzer.


Steve

[Art Bjornestad]

I tried a 90db and it wasn't loud enough. By the way, I remember that I purchased the tail lights from Speedway at a sale in December. They were about $50. for the pair. Their latest catalog shows them at $80 the pair or $50 for just the inserts.

[midgetracer]

I bought a Snyders buzzer and it was on the quiet side, so I bought a Radio Shack buzzer and cars next to me can hear it. I am not sure of the dbs, but it cost only about $5.

[Model A Man]

I also use the Radio Shack buzzer and it is very loud. you can get them in 6V or 12V

[skip]

That's just like mine. Red for tail and amber for stop

skip.

[marc hildebrant]

[QUOTE=john hamilton;11043]My 1930 Packard has a red taillight and amber brake light. The inspection station (Texas) had to look it up in a reference book to establish that it was correct.

Was the standard Model A light Amber for Stop and Red for Tailight in 1930's ?

Marc

[Jim/GA]

Originally Posted by marc hildebrant

Was the standard Model A light Amber for Stop and Red for Tailight in 1930's ?

Marc

Yes.

[Chris in WNC]

Originally Posted by Bruce Adams

I converted my amber brake light to red, using an ALL RED taillite lens since I figure its easier to conform to the world then to confuse drivers behind me.
I have never seen an amber brake light on a modern car.
This way, my taillite, brake light, directionals, and third brakelight LED all conform to what following cars are expecting to see.

I have always run my Model As with RED brake lights.

the average goober behind you has no clue what that yellow light is all about.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Originally Posted by SteveM

Huh, what was that? Speak up a bit. :-)

Know what you mean,

See if you can find something called a "Sonalert". They are loud, piercing sound devices. Not a buzzer, but it will get your attention.

I think this one is the same type of device:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062395
75 db. Should be enough to get over the sound of an A.



And it's even 6 volts!

You could also get a relay and just wire it up so that the power runs through the normally-closed side of the relay. That will turn it into a buzzer.


Steve

Hi Steve, bought a couple at Radio Shack but don't know how to hook it up. Is there a diagram or something? Thanks, Barry

[skip]

If the original manufacture used Yellow over red and the State grants you the registration and tile etc, etc, you are not obligated to make the modern change. I'd do the LED change though.

For example; I had a fiberglass dune buggy with no bumpers. Some Chicago cop issued a ticket for 'no bumpers'.

The judge said I was the vehicle manufacture...The State of 'Ill-noise' sent me a stick-on VIN for the firewall above the pedels from a stupid embossed vinyl tape!...and I did not have bumpers on when safety inspected by a State Trooper when/as titled.

Therefore no violation. Case dismissed. I did buy a set of nerf bars to hang foglights on later in life. So there. Tell'em what you think. Did you ever see a garbage truck with back bumpers?


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