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LED tail lights and making the brake and blinker the same wire?

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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 11:18 AM
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LED tail lights and making the brake and blinker the same wire?

I am switching over to LED tail lights and I really ony want to use one light for each side. First question is how do I make it so the brake and blinker run off the same wire? second is what flasher relay are you guys using to work with the led or are you guys using a resistor?
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 11:39 AM
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Most setups with a blinker/brake light have two filaments inside the bulb. No so with a led bulb.
Why not just use two LEDs in each side?
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 12:10 PM
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How would that work? With a standard setup, with both brakes and turn signal, one side is on solid (brake), and other side is also on solid, but flashes BRIGHTER with the turn signal. Were you thinking of trying to wire one LED taillight to come on "dim" with brakes, and "full" with the turn signal?

Would that even be legal?
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 12:41 PM
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Disregard my first post. I was thinking about the running lights and blinker lights. Not blinker and brake lights.
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 12:43 PM
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Red face

if you try that the front turn signals will light with the brake light switch

It just will not work unless you rewire the whole system like what you find on GM vehicles

If you want to spend the time and money I am sure it can be made to work like you want
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 05:47 PM
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Had that same problem. PO built a flatbed and put regular round led trailer lights in it. I had to redneck in a second set of lights that are used just for turn signals. And it's pretty redneck lol. Led lights use trailer wiring plug, turn signals are spliced into factory taillight connectors. Thank God PO left those zip tied out of the way.
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 05:49 PM
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Also using a standard non led light for turn signals increases the resistance and returns the blink rate to stock
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 06:05 PM
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Go to a place that sells trailer hitches and buy the $30 adaptor box that converts Japanese/European rear lights (separate turn and brake lights) to combined turn/brake signals like what are on most trailers. Then just wire your LED lights to the output of that box, like you were wiring trailer lights.

Actually, your 4Runner quite likely has a trailer wiring harness already installed that you could hook to your LED lights that will do exactly what you want. See if there isn't an unused bundle of wires tucked up under your rear frame or bumper.
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 08:10 PM
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The flasher I'm using is superbrightleds.com flasher the black one but in order for it to work you have to cross the two connections. I grabbed some crimpers little but of wire added some ends to both of them and plugged it in to the housing. Works like a charm no more ADD flashing.
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by RJR
Go to a place that sells trailer hitches and buy the $30 adaptor box that converts Japanese/European rear lights (separate turn and brake lights) to combined turn/brake signals like what are on most trailers. Then just wire your LED lights to the output of that box, like you were wiring trailer lights.
.
You need to the trailer converter mentioned above
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Trailer-Mate-Standard-Duty-Powered-Tail-Light-Converter-w-Adv-Circuit-Protection-/380954183859?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item58b2a388b3&vxp=mtr
something like this to convert your separate brake/turn/tail into a single unit.

solder your connections and don't use these wire power splice pictured in the attachment, they cause problems down the road.
Attached Thumbnails LED tail lights and making the brake and blinker the same wire?-wire-splice.jpg  
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Old Sep 11, 2014 | 03:14 AM
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Thanks guys I found an old trailer converter I had laying around last night and I think it should work. Yes, I would never use scotch locks (always solder and adhesive lined shrink wrap). I should be done with flatbed install and lights this weekend I will post all the pics when completed. Thanks again
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Old Sep 11, 2014 | 06:21 AM
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This is easy with a relay, just make sure a diode is in place to avoid your turn signal backfeeding the entire brake circuit. Also, you'll likely need a resistor on the TS circuit or they will blink fast like a bulb is out.
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Old Sep 11, 2014 | 01:10 PM
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Red face

I must say I never thought of using a trailer converter but then all of my vehicles pull trailers

Then I use a 7pin plug on everything
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Old Sep 11, 2014 | 01:50 PM
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You could splice 2 trailer adapters together and use one for truck lights and the other for trailer. That's my long term plan
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Old Sep 11, 2014 | 03:16 PM
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Red face

I really have no problem running a separate turn signal light The more lights the better.
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Old Sep 11, 2014 | 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by wyoming9
I really have no problem running a separate turn signal light The more lights the better.
I agree. I just wish AutoZone would've had yellow lenses in stock. Red looks funky to me
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Old Oct 10, 2014 | 06:29 AM
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Okay so I got everything working but now I have a new problem . I am getting cross feed between the blinkers, it is only slight but it is enough to bother me is there any way to fix this?
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Old Oct 10, 2014 | 06:46 AM
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When one blinker flashes the other flashes dimly? Like tail light brightness?
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Old Oct 10, 2014 | 07:22 AM
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less than half tail light brightness (slight flicker). With the parking lights on you cant event notice it
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Old Oct 10, 2014 | 07:37 AM
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Do what I do and always turn your lights on I'll grab a Video of mine real quick like.
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