Electrical Geniuses?? (Taillight Integrator)

I felt like wasting $99 and bought a taillight integrator for my dual-bulb taillight. I received the unit and these instructions:

i148.photobucket.com/albums/s16/79MKII/M.../IllSportDiagram.jpg

WTF? How can this work if the wires for the running lights and brake lights are wired together? Does this thing actually have a variable output of some sort that will vary the bulb brightness? Both filaments would have to be lighted if connected as shown :S :blink:

I don't get it...

You spent $99 on the intergrator? Lockhart Phillips sells their's for $49 and comes with better instructions.

I think what they're saying is to twist the two running light wires together and the two brake light wires together on the main harness side then connect those to the box. Coming out of the box they'll be seperate again.

Later, Doug

StreetfighterKz wrote:

You spent $99 on the intergrator? Lockhart Phillips sells their's for $49 and comes with better instructions.

Later, Doug

Gee, thanks!

The diagram actually shows the wires from the Bulbs being twisted together. They suggest that you shrink wrap the LH running and brake wires and only use the RH wires for connecting to the box. The input makes sense to me, but there should (has to be?) a separate output for each filament, right??

The way I wired mine in was...

Running light (IN) 2 into 1
Brake light (IN) 2 into 1
Left TS (IN) 1 into 1
Right TS (IN) 1 into 1

Right Running light (OUT) 1 into 1
Left Running light (OUT) 1 into 1
Right Brake/TS (OUT) 1 into 1
Left Brake/TS (OUT) 1 into 1

I hope that makes sense. (It did in my head but that doesn't mean anything. :silly: )

Later, Doug

Geez 79MK, no offense, but the instructions on that thing are hard to read. It's legible, but not readable. All caps? :blink:

Yes, it's strange that you tie both filaments together. Theoretically it'll work if they control the current to the bulb to reduce the brightness for running then increase it for signal/brake (as you suggested). It's possible they did it that way in case you were to use rear bulbs with only one filament. This would allow people to use simple one-wire turn signals as brake/running/signal lights. That would also expain the extra expense. But really, they just need a better set of instructions with a better picture.

Post edited by: loudhvx, at: 2008/02/18 15:28

StreetfighterKz wrote:

The way I wired mine in was...

Running light (IN) 2 into 1
Brake light (IN) 2 into 1
Left TS (IN) 1 into 1
Right TS (IN) 1 into 1

Right Running light (OUT) 1 into 1
Left Running light (OUT) 1 into 1
Right Brake/TS (OUT) 1 into 1
Left Brake/TS (OUT) 1 into 1

Now that makes sense! That isn't how they show it though:blink:

loudhvx wrote:

Geez 79MK, no offense, but the instructions on that thing are hard to read. It's legible, but not readable. All caps? :blink:

...

No offense taken - that's their mess, not mine! I agree, those instructions are horrible! They are not written well at all. I had first guessed a translation problem but then realized they are made in the U.S.! I have emailed them and ask for some clarification. I'll let you know...

79MKII wrote:

loudhvx wrote:

Geez 79MK, no offense, but the instructions on that thing are hard to read. It's legible, but not readable. All caps? :blink:

...

No offense taken - that's their mess, not mine! I agree, those instructions are horrible! They are not written well at all. I had first guessed a translation problem but then realized they are made in the U.S.!

And written by graduates of our public school system.....

bountyhunter wrote:

79MKII wrote:

loudhvx wrote:

Geez 79MK, no offense, but the instructions on that thing are hard to read. It's legible, but not readable. All caps? :blink:

...

No offense taken - that's their mess, not mine! I agree, those instructions are horrible! They are not written well at all. I had first guessed a translation problem but then realized they are made in the U.S.!

And written by graduates of our public school system.....

Aw... come on, we can't assume they gradiated. :laugh:

79MKII wrote:

I felt like wasting $99 and bought a taillight integrator for my dual-bulb taillight. I received the unit and these instructions:

i148.photobucket.com/albums/s16/79MKII/M.../IllSportDiagram.jpg

WTF? How can this work if the wires for the running lights and brake lights are wired together? Does this thing actually have a variable output of some sort that will vary the bulb brightness? Both filaments would have to be lighted if connected as shown :S :blink:

I don't get it...

The text is gibberish, but the diagram clearly shows only two power feed wires to the rear of the bike. That would imply that the rear lights (running and turn signal) are wired together as one filament. It would be very easy for a solid-state converter circuit to light it as a brake light and also be able to switch it on and off in response to the turn signal flasher signal.

loudhvx wrote:

bountyhunter wrote:

79MKII wrote:

loudhvx wrote:

Geez 79MK, no offense, but the instructions on that thing are hard to read. It's legible, but not readable. All caps? :blink:

...

No offense taken - that's their mess, not mine! I agree, those instructions are horrible! They are not written well at all. I had first guessed a translation problem but then realized they are made in the U.S.!

And written by graduates of our public school system.....

Aw... come on, we can't assume they gradiated. :laugh:

That's true.

bountyhunter wrote:

79MKII wrote:

I felt like wasting $99 and bought a taillight integrator for my dual-bulb taillight. I received the unit and these instructions:

i148.photobucket.com/albums/s16/79MKII/M.../IllSportDiagram.jpg

WTF? How can this work if the wires for the running lights and brake lights are wired together? Does this thing actually have a variable output of some sort that will vary the bulb brightness? Both filaments would have to be lighted if connected as shown :S :blink:

I don't get it...

The text is gibberish, but the diagram clearly shows only two power feed wires to the rear of the bike. That would imply that the rear lights (running and turn signal) are wired together as one filament. It would be very easy for a solid-state converter circuit to light it as a brake light and also be able to switch it on and off in response to the turn signal flasher signal.

The only problem with that is that it has to work as a tail light too. The bulb needs 3 functions: Running, brake and turn. It would have to vary the brightness too, not just turn it on and off, right??