Any suggestions for installing third brake light? PICTURES

belfert · August 23, 2009, 08:12:32 AM

Ok, any suggestions for installing my surface mount third brake light? It has 3M VHB tape on the back and no screw holes.

My dilemma is the area I wanted to install it on is not flat. I was going to put it on top of the original third brake light lens, but it turns out the lens is slightly curved and not flat enough. Any ideas? I'm thinking maybe remove the old lens entirely and place some sheet aluminum over the area, but how do I adhere the aluminum and how do I seal the aluminum so it doesn't leak along the edge?

I'm also open to using a different LED light for the third brake light. I choose this Truck-Lite model as it is the only one listed specifically as a CMHSL light and has quite a few LEDs. I can't go back to the original since I drilled a hole through the original lens and I doubt I could get a new one.

Len Silva · August 23, 2009, 08:24:51 AM

Any chance you could warm it up a bit with a heat gun and get it to conform?

belfert · August 23, 2009, 08:33:10 AM

Quote from: Len Silva on August 23, 2009, 08:24:51 AM
Any chance you could warm it up a bit with a heat gun and get it to conform?

I highly doubt I could get enough heat into the entire light assembly to bend it without melting something. I would have to bend the whole lens and everything. I think this will be a last resort.

belfert · August 23, 2009, 08:58:14 AM

I have another idea. Truck-Lite makes some round single LED marker lights. I could install these into the original lens. Truck-Lite 33050R

http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=32152&langId=-1&catentryId=32153

Two issues: Will these marker lights be bright enough as brake lights? I could only install maybe five of them so not sure if enough LEDs.

I might go over to Napa to take a look. Still studying other options.

johns4104s · August 23, 2009, 09:09:02 AM

Please let me know as I am going to change out my centre stop light to a large long bright led one,

JOHN

Sean · August 23, 2009, 10:32:36 AM

Quote from: belfert on August 23, 2009, 08:58:14 AM
I have another idea. Truck-Lite makes some round single LED marker lights. I could install these into the original lens. Truck-Lite 33050R

http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=32152&langId=-1&catentryId=32153

Two issues: Will these marker lights be bright enough as brake lights? I could only install maybe five of them so not sure if enough LEDs.

No, marker lights will not be bright enough to be brake lights, and they are also not legal for that purpose.

Before anyone jumps on me to tell me that a center-mount brake light is not legally required on a bus, which is true, let me remind everyone that when you choose to install an optional lamp, it must still conform to all the FMVSS-108 requirements for that lamp as if the lamp was required. So only a SAE/DOT stop lamp can be used as a center brake light. It's unlikely you would ever be pulled over for this, but it's expensive if it happens, as you will not only pay the citation, but also have to fix the problem and return to the citing jurisdiction to prove it has been corrected. Better off to just use legal lamps to begin with.

BTW, we simply cut an "SAE Oval" into our tailgate and put a Truck-Lite oval LED stop lamp in it. Works great, was inexpensive, and SAE oval LED stop lamps are now ubiquitous and cheap; you can even get the ones that are "clear" until they are lit, when they are bright red.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

Jeremy · August 23, 2009, 10:50:55 AM

What's an 'SAE Oval'? I didn't know they were defining shapes now

Jeremy

Sean · August 23, 2009, 11:13:01 AM

Quote from: Jeremy on August 23, 2009, 10:50:55 AM
What's an 'SAE Oval'? I didn't know they were defining shapes now

While automobile manufacturers (and many bus builders, as note here and in other posts) seem to prefer custom fitted and thus non-interchangeable light fixtures for styling reasons, the SAE has nevertheless standardized a number of shapes for lamp cutouts, to facilitate parts interchangeability on vehicles where that is desirable, such as heavy trucks.

So there is a standard "oval" size and shape, along with several round sizes, and virtually every lamp manufacturer such as Truck-Lite, Grote, Dialight, etc, makes lamps in these standard sizes. Budget-minded vehicle body manufacturers make cutouts in these sizes into the bodies so that they will have a choice of off-the-shelf standard lamps from many vendors.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

belfert · August 23, 2009, 12:24:03 PM

I decided not to use the single LED marker lights because of the expense and the legality issues.

My plan is to remove the existing light fixture and make an aluminum plate to cover the hole. I will then attach the new light to that. Had I know this would be an issue I would have used a different light. I never thought about just moving the third brake light to the fiberglass door. I was focused on the existing light.

Dreamscape · August 23, 2009, 02:00:03 PM

This is what I installed, bought on eBay for about 15 bucks, DOT rated, 8 LED's for brake, 2 for driving/marker.

Paul

belfert · August 23, 2009, 03:28:54 PM

Quote from: Dreamscape on August 23, 2009, 02:00:03 PM
This is what I installed, bought on eBay for about 15 bucks, DOT rated, 8 LED's for brake, 2 for driving/marker.

I'm curious, who makes that? I couldn't seem to find an LED third brake light like that was for brakes. Most of the bar lights are for the center of trailers and dually pickups.

I did find today that both Peterson and Bargman make ones like you have, but I couldn't hardly finding anyone selling the Peterson model. The Bargman model seems to be available.

Dreamscape · August 23, 2009, 04:51:10 PM

This is the store I bought it from. I did not see any listing, you might send them a message. It's been at least two years since I bought it.

15 1/2" long x 1 1/2" wide, three wires, one ground, one brake, one marker.

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/R-and-P-Carriages-Trailer-Sales__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Paul

belfert · August 23, 2009, 09:57:35 PM

I was hoping to get this done this evening, but I have been on the phone with work issues since about 7 pm. I'm not happy as I have to have this whole lighting project done by Thursday afternoon.

Len Silva · August 24, 2009, 07:35:35 AM

Brian,

If I were pressed for time I don't think I would make the CMHSL a priority. Just make sure all the other lights work properly and cover the existing CMHSL with tape. Nobody is going to notice and you can fix it the right way when you have the time.

Len

belfert · August 24, 2009, 08:03:27 AM

The entire CMHSL assembly has been removed so I could cover the hole with tape for now. I had the same thought of leaving this until the end.

I thought a third brake light is required since my bus is a 1995, but according to Sean it is't required.