Which wires are for the brake light?

Hello,

I'm trying to add a red LED light as a second brake light. Before I start cutting into wires I want to be sure I cut the correct ones.

On this forum I've read DennisB's post about his harness that states the blue wire is for the brake and the white wire is a ground.

On another Silverwing forum I've read that the green/yellow wire is the brake light and the green wire is a ground.

Can someone clarify?

Thanks!

green/yellow wire is the brake light and the green wire is a ground.

Thanks - I thought green was always ground so DennisB's instruction made no sense to me.

IIRC DennisB's "Perfect Connector" did not follow the Honda OEM wire color code. He made up that Connector for wiring a trailer.

I have a 5-wire plug & play "Perfect Connector"-type tail light wire harness adapter available. Honda factory color code wiring and Hitachi connectors. PM me if interested

Tim

When I fitted an extra brake light I did NOT cut any wires, I used a connector that is used for trailer wires it is usually blue and has  a centre piece that has one  v shaped cutter that is for the original wire and continues through and joined to it is another v shaped piece that takes the extra wire. when it is closed both wires are pushed into the v's and connection is made. When I sold my first Silverwing I just opened up the connector and pulled the wires out, used the connector again on my new silverwing. Sorry cannot remember the wire colours.   I think on my FJS they were not the same as Dennis mentioned.

You mean a suitcase connector--like this?

http://www.micromark.com/suitcase-connectors-idc-905-red-pkg-of-25,8939.html

I always wondered what those rascals were called... cute name... I've use several of them.  Also, while the Green/Yellow is the brake circuit, that must make the BLack/BRown the tail light circuit.  (CMIIW)...  Correct Me If I'm Wrong...  Always wanted to "coin" a new acronym and since I've got more time than sense, thought I'd give it a shot...

I'm done, thanks all. I thought those were called Scotchlock connectors, which everyone frowns upon. I used something from Radio Shack, one half crimps on to the wire you are tapping and the second half is a spade connector that slides into the first part. Should make me a bit more noticeable.

When I hooked up my lights on top case I used posi-taps.

The connectors you described are called Scotchlok connectors.

To each his own on the Scotchlok connectors, admitting ease of use but what I saw in the long run is the galvanized part and the copper wire don't get along well and eventually they corrode and cause problems. Most all I used were replaced by solder and shrink tube or the bullet connectors. The use of dielectric grease MAY prolong the life span if they are used.

Scotchlok is the 3M brand of a suitcase connector.  It's becoming the standard term for the connectors, I guess, like kleenex for facial tissue.

I heard the same thing about problems with the connectors.  Also, it's not too hard (at least for me) to get a bad connection when doing the crimping (wire not the right size for the particular connector, wire moves as the crimp is made, off-brand connector, not using a proper tool, etc.).

But, then again, I'm a ham-fisted mechanic.  One day I'll share the story how when installing a radio on a bike I managed to get a chopstick in the gas tank--that's the kind of handyman I am.  

I've tried all sorts of crimps and spade connectors and and disliked almost all off them. By far the easiest solution is to use Posi-Lock and Posi-Tap connectors.

Unscrew the two parts of the Posi-Lock and separate, strip the insulation of the end of a wire and thread it through one end of a Posi-Lock, do the same with the other wire and thread it through the other end of the Posi-Lock and screw the connector together. That's it done, ideal for fitting 12v plugs to sat nav leads and whatever electrical junk you think you need to draw attention to yourself with.

Meldrew wrote:

I've tried all sorts of crimps and spade connectors and and disliked almost all off them. By far the easiest solution is to use Posi-Lock and Posi-Tap connectors.

Unscrew the two parts of the Posi-Lock and separate, strip the insulation of the end of a wire and thread it through one end of a Posi-Lock, do the same with the other wire and thread it through the other end of the Posi-Lock and screw the connector together. That's it done, ideal for fitting 12v plugs to sat nav leads and whatever electrical junk you think you need to draw attention to yourself with.

Posi-Lock then shrink tube it and you should be good to go even in wet locations. On trailer connections I've even added a smear of silicone rubber over it for abrasion protection.

The light I picked up had two setting, modulated (rapid flashing) and always on. Well, there were NO instructions as how to select a setting so my brake light is modulated. I prefer that but it may not be legal in (YOUR STATE HERE) so a connection I could take apart was preferred. I only had one small posilock connector so I went with the Radio Shack ones I had. They are significantly cheaper than the posilocks as well. Heat shrink isn't necessary in that area as it is dry as a bone in there.

https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-quick-splice-con-18-22awg?variant=7188842757