1157 socket as turn AND brake?

[corey]

I'm modifying my XS and plan on making my turn signals be both turn signals and brakes... i.e., when not being used to indicate turn, the bulb will light up as a brake light. Figure extra brake lights will be good. I will be using the 1157 socket and bulb, and thus have the double filaments for the running light and turn/brake lights. Wiring the running light is a piece of cake... its wiring the turn and brake to the same filament that confuses me. If I simply wire the running light to the dim filament and both the turn and brake wire to the bright filaments, will i get my desired function?

I figure not. I imagine the brake voltage will override the intermittent turn signal voltage, thus not allowing me to signal turns while braking. Is there a way to wire the bright filament to function as a turn signal even while braking? In otherwords, is there a way to have turn signal voltage override the brake votlage? I've seen it on some cars, so I know its possible...

[Crazcnuk]

I believe, to do that you need to buy a brake light module. It takes the 3 seperate wire system and converts to a 2 wire system.

I used one of these modules on My Shadow to hook it up to the trailer.

There are modules going both ways, so you need to know which you need.

Personally, I wouldn't wire it as you say. If your lights do all 3 duties, they become hard to see what you are doing.

This is why they added the 3rd, high-mount, brake light to cars, as people were not seeing the tail/signal/brake combo very well.

[corey]

I see the concern now. I think I want to try, just to see what it looks like. Can always undo it.

Where to get those modules? Cost?

[Rasputin]

Check this site out. IIRC they will have something you can use. Also it will give you ideas of what other things you can do to make the brakelights more visible. Has LED lighting and other goodies there too.

http://www.signaldynamics.com/products.htm

[fredintoon]

I'm modifying my XS and plan on making my turn signals be both turn signals and brakes... i.e., when not being used to indicate turn, the bulb will light up as a brake light. Figure extra brake lights will be good. I will be using the 1157 socket and bulb, and thus have the double filaments for the running light and turn/brake lights. Wiring the running light is a piece of cake... its wiring the turn and brake to the same filament that confuses me. - - -

Hi Corey,
yeah, one of those 3 into 2 things should work.
BUT CONSIDER
The XS turn signals are amber.
For a brake light to be recognized as such it needs to be red.
OK, flashing red is recognized as a turn signal but can you get red XS turn signal lenses?
Thing is, my sidecar rig is lit up like a Christmas tree so I'm OK but for a solo I'd think about adding a pair of separate stop or stop/tail lights
rather than perhaps confusing folks (and car drivers are very easily confused) by messing with my signals.

[Crazcnuk]

I think the european models used red signal lenses, maybe someone else knows for sure.

On my std, the signals are park lights, and I made the center 2 lights on the trunk come on as brakes only. This adds to to the brake/taillight combo on the fender.

[crazy steve]

This has come up on another forum I'm on...

For the XS, go to your local auto parts store and get a 'trailer converter' (Hoppy is a easy-to-find popular brand; about $15) and just follow the directions. Your turn signal 'auto shut-off' feature will quit working. And yes, you will need red lenses as all federal/most state laws require a red tail/brake light. These were available at one time in the aftermarket (I have a set, but mine were bought in early '79!), so a search may turn some up. No luck? Then pick up some front turn/running lights off a Harley (Ebay would be a good place to look). These use the same lens as the HD rears, and there's all kinds of red lenses available.


'78E original owner

[Poprock]

A dude on eBay is selling 4 red lenses for $3 + freight. Brand new, fit XS turn sig housings. Some places, turn sigs have to be orange, brake lights red. You might want to just add two turn signal stalks for the red lenses. That's the way it's set up on my 80SG bagger. I like the look.

[corey]

i failed to mention I don't have the stock turn signals out back. I bobbed the frame and mounted some 1156 in the stubs of the frame which already have red lens. Tucks the turn signals in real close to the bike, streamlined the hole thing. I plan on just replacing the 1156 with 1157 and running the wiring/module. As for now I have a brake light right behind the solo seat I made. If this works out smooth enough I'll probably dispose of the the center brake light.

I need to post some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about.

I'll look into one of those modules. Autozoo, etc, should have it, right?

[crazy steve]

The trailer module you want to ask for is the '3 in, 2 out' version (you can get one that goes the other way, so be sure). Hoppy is one brand, there's others. I'm sure at least one of your local parts stores should have these. You may have to reverse the wires on the flasher, maybe not.

You can't just put a 1157 into a 1156 socket as it won't fit. So look into that too. There are electronic modules that will 'convert' the single-filament 1156 to work as turn/run lights but you can't get the brake function with these and they're a bit pricey at $50+.

Eliminating the brake/taillight opens another can of worms. Most OEM taillight lenses have a reflector built into them (which the turn lenses lack) and this is a federal/most state requirement. So to be legal, you'll need some sort of red reflector on the back (I know a guy that got a $80 ticket for this...). You also need a white light on the plate (usually done by the taillight). Run into the wrong LEO without this stuff and this could get expensive. Check your local MV laws to see what you need.

'78E original owner

[corey]

Definitely trying to stay legal. I have some reflectors to slap on, and I was going to run a little cheap LED to the license plate.

I went ahead and got the Hoppy module. Pretty easy to wire, looks like. I've been playing with it. On a priliminary hook up, I can get the brake and running lamp to work. However, when I activate the turn signal the flasher unit under the side cover just rapidly clicks to no end with out even the front turn light coming on. I messed with the grounds as they were anything but tight/permanent. Is this just because the trailer light module is cranking out too many amps, tweeking my flasher relay? Its the original, looks like. I read something about getting a heavy duty one for trailers for around $7. Think this is all that is wrong with the setup?

[cywelchjr]

Definitely trying to stay legal. I have some reflectors to slap on, and I was going to run a little cheap LED to the license plate.

I went ahead and got the Hoppy module. Pretty easy to wire, looks like. I've been playing with it. On a priliminary hook up, I can get the brake and running lamp to work. However, when I activate the turn signal the flasher unit under the side cover just rapidly clicks to no end with out even the front turn light coming on. I messed with the grounds as they were anything but tight/permanent. Is this just because the trailer light module is cranking out too many amps, tweeking my flasher relay? Its the original, looks like. I read something about getting a heavy duty one for trailers for around $7. Think this is all that is wrong with the setup?

Yes, the load will have most likely gone way down, and because of that the stock flasher won't work. Just get a TWO prong electronic unit and say goodbye to auto cancel (which is not a great lost IMHO).

[crazy steve]

I read something about getting a heavy duty one for trailers for around $7. Think this is all that is wrong with the setup?

I used one of these converters on my XS when I towed a trailer behind it. I had to use an 'electronic' flasher (the ones that will flash any combo of lights) AND reverse the two wires in the factory flasher plug. It worked great then, but the auto-off feature quit.

'78E original owner

[79XS11F]

1157 are also the wrong wattage check the manual for wattage
Rob

[Ken Talbot]

Another option is to install an alternating flasher inside the brakelight housing. When I apply either brake, one bulb comes on first. The alternating flasher takes over to move the power over to the other bulb at one second intervals until the brake is released. Many members of this forum have ridden behind me and commented favourably on the effect it gives.