Adding a brake light

[RoGuE]

So the center mount light on our 02 Suburban broke a number of years back and I've never been comfortable with just the two faded brake lights. I had this trailer lamp that has three 1194 bulbs in it and I decided to mount it on the rear bumper. I used a wire splice/tap on the drivers side brake lamp and now it's tied into that. I was just wondering if this was safe to do, as far as putting too much load on the original brake wire.

Thanks

Edit: Oops, I meant to put this in the lighting section.

 

[Chris142]

how many watts are the 1194 bulbs?

 

[javacontour]

Do you have separate turn signal lamps? If your brake lights double as turn signals, your 3rd brake light will also flash when you signal for a left turn.

Originally Posted By: RoGuE
So the center mount light on our 02 Suburban broke a number of years back and I've never been comfortable with just the two faded brake lights. I had this trailer lamp that has three 1194 bulbs in it and I decided to mount it on the rear bumper. I used a wire splice/tap on the drivers side brake lamp and now it's tied into that. I was just wondering if this was safe to do, as far as putting too much load on the original brake wire.

Thanks

Edit: Oops, I meant to put this in the lighting section.

 

[The_Jeff]

You're fine. Though you could plug it into the trailer harness.

 

[NHGUY]

I believe Dorman sells replacement 3rd brake lights for that vehicle.

 

[mechtech2]

Easier and more legal to fix the center light .
Really, 2 wires and a bulb.
Less hazardous to people behind you, too.

 

[HerrStig]

An LED bulb won't overload anything.

 

[RoGuE]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
how many watts are the 1194 bulbs?


I honestly don't know. They aren't super bright though, so I imagine 4 watts at the most?

Originally Posted By: javacontour
Do you have separate turn signal lamps? If your brake lights double as turn signals, your 3rd brake light will also flash when you signal for a left turn.


The turn signals are separate units.

Originally Posted By: eljefino
You're fine. Though you could plug it into the trailer harness.


I tried the harness, but that did not offer the brake lights only. It offered the right and left brake lamp separately but it also assumes the trailer is a single unit so it acted as a turn signal as well. Tapping into the hot lead on the brake lamp was the only option.

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
I believe Dorman sells replacement 3rd brake lights for that vehicle.


Interesting...not too much at around $55. I looked a couple of years ago and could not find any option under $200.

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Easier and more legal to fix the center light .
Really, 2 wires and a bulb.
Less hazardous to people behind you, too.


There is no legal requirement to have a working center light. But I do prefer there to be one for safety.

 

[RoGuE]

Here is what they look like lit up. They aren't any brighter than the regular brakes so I assume they aren't very high wattage. Also, all of the electrical connections have been well taped, and I even soldered the wiring (and capped) to the lights. Also made sure everything well zip tied up to the frame. I may still repalce the stock high mount brake light since it is only $36 on ebay!

 

[carwreck]

While it looks nice, I don't think a broken center light complies with GA DMV laws or NHTSA CHMSL height laws.

"When a vehicle is equipped with a brake light or other signal lights, such light or lights shall at all times be maintained in good working condition."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_lighting#Centre_High_Mount_Stop_Lamp_.28CHMSL.29
"In North America since 1986,... a central brake lamp, mounted higher than the vehicle's left and right brake lamps and called a "Centre High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL)", is also required."

"The height of the CHMSL is also regulated, in absolute terms and with respect to the mounting height of the vehicle's conventional left and right stop lamps. Depending on the left and right lamps' height, the lower edge of the CHMSL may be just above the left and right lamps' upper edge."

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
An LED bulb won't overload anything.


It van make a flasher flash too quickly.