brake lights with no signal

magnet

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
5,364
Reaction score
1,391
Location
GSBA
is there any way to hok up a brake light without signals on a rv plug? put a third light in the center of my deck and would like it to be a brake as well. without having to go to the one on the cab.
 

higher n you

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Messages
1,037
Reaction score
582
Location
GBCA
I have never tried this but if you are wired and have a brake controller the blue wire will have power when you press the brake. Although some need to be plugged in for the controller to activate. You would have to run a seperate wire from the plug to the brake light.
 

magnet

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
5,364
Reaction score
1,391
Location
GSBA
I have never tried this but if you are wired and have a brake controller the blue wire will have power when you press the brake. Although some need to be plugged in for the controller to activate. You would have to run a seperate wire from the plug to the brake light.

thats exactly what i thought i could do but no worky, it tells me trailer is disconected in the dash, probably not enough resistance ?:confused: or something to make the actuator work i dunno.
must be something they use for the third brake light i would assume. just thought maybe somebody has done it and had it work before.
 

magnet

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
5,364
Reaction score
1,391
Location
GSBA
:dwhy the heck could they not have a seperate wire like a real truck.
 

Longhorn

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
3,809
Reaction score
415
Location
Medicine Hat, AB
Website
www.longhornenergy.ca
I have never found a 'good' way to do this from the rear of the truck. The best way is to run a wire right from the brake pedal switch.

I always end up with the light blinking with the signal...I did hook to my brake controller lead but on a Tekonsha its 'pulses' to check for bad ground in the trailer, so the light flashes...
 

wiseguy

Active member
Joined
Oct 16, 2008
Messages
103
Reaction score
53
Location
Medicine Hat
When I had my canopy installed they ran the wire from the brake light on it down to the factory trailer wiring harness in behind the plug on the truck. The harness had a seperate wire in it for this. If I remember correctly, it was light blue and it had a little sticker on it. Try this link. They talk a little about it.

Trailer plug harness tap - Chevy and GMC Duramax Diesel Forum
 

Catchme

Active VIP Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2009
Messages
365
Reaction score
679
Location
Didsbury
thats exactly what i thought i could do but no worky, it tells me trailer is disconected in the dash, probably not enough resistance ?:confused: or something to make the actuator work i dunno.
must be something they use for the third brake light i would assume. just thought maybe somebody has done it and had it work before.

Just went through this before Christmas. I put a 3rd brake light and extra lights on the back of my Marathon extension. To get the brake light to work wire it in to pin #2 which is used for the signal for the electric brakes. I turn my brake controller (forget the brand) to #5 or #6 to supply good voltage when you press the brake pedal but it works just fine. I'm using a 11 light LED light bar for the brake light.
 

kimrick

RIP Fellow Sledder
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
2,236
Reaction score
6,304
Location
In Heaven & Revelstoke
Just went through this before Christmas. I put a 3rd brake light and extra lights on the back of my Marathon extension. To get the brake light to work wire it in to pin #2 which is used for the signal for the electric brakes. I turn my brake controller (forget the brand) to #5 or #6 to supply good voltage when you press the brake pedal but it works just fine. I'm using a 11 light LED light bar for the brake light.

Great call!

Use this post as above. The only other way is to wheatstone bridge off seperate sides.

Diodes are the secret.

CATCHME has the idea..Low cost... No electrical stuff... simple... Great input bud.
 

Longhorn

Active VIP Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
3,809
Reaction score
415
Location
Medicine Hat, AB
Website
www.longhornenergy.ca
Just went through this before Christmas. I put a 3rd brake light and extra lights on the back of my Marathon extension. To get the brake light to work wire it in to pin #2 which is used for the signal for the electric brakes. I turn my brake controller (forget the brand) to #5 or #6 to supply good voltage when you press the brake pedal but it works just fine. I'm using a 11 light LED light bar for the brake light.

This works until you have to pull a trailer...
 

Catchme

Active VIP Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2009
Messages
365
Reaction score
679
Location
Didsbury
Your right. The voltage would be way to high for trailer brakes. I did it this way because my plug is in the box already for my 5th wheel trailer. In the winter I never use my deck and pull my enclosed at the same time.
 

Hitchguy

Active member
Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
141
Reaction score
13
Location
Leduc
on a chev or ford there is a wire behind the plug should be by itself with chmsl i think on it tie into that and you will have a break light for your middle light. it is used for canopies and the little trinkets that are stuffed into your receiver that requires lighting hope that helps, the wire is a light blue and is prob only 16 ga
 

magnet

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
5,364
Reaction score
1,391
Location
GSBA
ya i have the factory brake controller in my truck and it doesn't matter how high we crank it it doesnt put out till the trailer is there. it can tell some how or something.
 

Catchme

Active VIP Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2009
Messages
365
Reaction score
679
Location
Didsbury
ya i have the factory brake controller in my truck and it doesn't matter how high we crank it it doesnt put out till the trailer is there. it can tell some how or something.

Make sure your grounding the light back through the plug so it completes the loop properly. Don't use chassis ground on it.
 

magnet

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
5,364
Reaction score
1,391
Location
GSBA
Make sure your grounding the light back through the plug so it completes the loop properly. Don't use chassis ground on it.

yes i grounded back through the plug, i think i found it though. apparently there is a green wire on the left fenderwell specifically for this. iwill see if i can find it and splice it into the back of my plug at the rear on the center aux. pin.
 
Top Bottom