Topic: brake switch wiring issues(now with pics)

[exdrocca]

Where to start...I recently installed an aftermarket brake light, and it only had 2 wires for hook up. Looking at the original one, there are 3. If I'm correct one is ground, another is for the switch, and the third is the lead. I've been switching the wires in and out with the new light, and came to the conclusion that the light will only work if I hook up the black/ground and the red/lead. So that leaves me with no where to hook up the switch. Does the switch need to be hooked up with the lead wire as well? or the ground? Kinda stuck right now.
Thanks for your help,
Mike

[mb3000gt]

not sure what you mean by switch and lead. the brake light (on my bike) has three wires: ground(green), brake(green/yellow), and running light(brown). without the running light the back of the bike would not be visible at night.

[JonnyHonda]

Is the new light you have a "Stop" and "tail" light, if so one cable will be thae brake the other the rear light, and ant bear metal will be ground.

[Pirate Gonzo]

I would say that you have the wrong aftermarket light for that bike. I could be wrong but the after market light I have on my bike has 3 wires black, red, and yellow. The red is the brake and the yellow is the tail lamp. What I did to figure it out was just hooking up the light to the battery and see what wire does what. I have also had bikes with only 2 wires to the tail lamp. One ground and one for the tail/brake lamp. I believe those work by controlling the power with a type of resistor or solenoid. I am not a bike mechanic or electrician but I would guess that you have the wrong lamp.

[KB02]

My theory would be this: Your new brake light still has three "Leads," your just don't recognize one of them.

Basically, like your old light, you have a Ground, a lead for the brake light, and a lead for the running light. With the new light, I'll be willing to bet that both the Brake light and the running light are the wire leads you have and they ground out through the metal frame of the light. Therefore, you should just be able to attach a ground lead to the metal housing of the tail light and everything should work.

Test it out with a volt meter to see if both leads ground out to the housing. (Like I said, this is a theory... that takes for granted you have a two filliment bulb... you do, right?) 

[Pirate Gonzo]

Jonny has a damn good point too... better than mine. heh.

[supersport_CB400F]

If the light came with a bulb fitted see how many filaments the bulb has 1=stop or tail lamp and 2= stop and tail.

[exdrocca]

Still no luck. I'm pretty sure the taillight I bought does function as a taillight and stoplight. It came with a dual filiment bulb, and the bulb does work. I went ahead and joined the running wire(brown) and the switch wire(green/yellow) to the red wire on the light, and then just hooked up the black wire on the light to the ground wire. Still didn't work. I just bought a brand new rear brake switch, so I'm pretty sure that's not it. I'm out of ideas for now. By the way, here's the light, and pick of my bike.
Thanks for your help,
Mike

[supersport_CB400F]

I rekon you need to ground the metal case of the new light (A piece of wire from some bare metal on your frame to the metal case of the new light) and the stop and tail wires are your black and red wires  on the new lamp

[Pirate Gonzo]

Sweet ass bike... ya, thats all I got for you.

[exdrocca]

Thanks, I did the work myself. I beat in the gas tank with a hammer and used alot of filler. heh. I painted it myself too.  It's a 10-footer though due to the body work. I kinda slacked off, and it shows. I'll do a better job on the next one.