Bulb info

[spooky]

My little French four stroke Terrot has a non standard brake light switch fitted, it wouldn't have one as original fitment and was in place when I got  the bike. However, it doesn't work. I took the rear light cover of and there is only one bulb, and it's  festoon type, exactly as it should be, could it be a twin filament stop and tail type?  The bulb itself lights brightly on side light but as it is an opaque one I can't see inside to see if a filament has gone... Any ideas please

[themoudie]

Aye Rufus,

As the festoon type bulb relies on the metal end caps to supply the current, unless these end caps are horizontaly split to accomodate two seperate feeds, there will only be a single filament inside the bulb. Happy to be proved wrong!

This link is to a supplier of 6v and 12v festoon bulbs of various dimension and wattage, but none are double filament. Festoon_bulbs

There are also festoon LED bulbs available. Link: led-festoon-bulbs with all the associated benifits.

Hope this helps. As to where you might fit a brake bulb to wire up with the non-standard switch? I'm sure your igenuity will sort something out on these long light nights! 

Good health, Bill

[spooky]

Thanks Bill, I have almost got to root of the issue. The side light is independent of the stop light, which it has to be when you have a good look,which I didn't do until this morning ! They're are two very small wires that go to an led strip sandwiched between the plastic light/ number plate lens ! A nod to modern times and quite well done, in fact almost invisible. When new there was no stop lamp....but I think the new stop light switch is faulty, just tested the led strip and it works fine.

[themoudie]

Aye Rufus,

Cheap Chinese wiring maybe the problem, as the fine guage wire used doesn't like 4 stroke thumper vibrations coursing its length. Chinese switch waterproofing can also leave a lot to be desired with the contacts sitting in water at best and brine at worst, resulting in a green coat if brass, or iron oxide if the contacts were brass plated for economy! 

All the best, Bill

[spooky]

Had another go at the illuminations... If I wire LED strip direct to battery it is as bright as it should be, when fitted back in light box it hardly lights at all, tail light bulb is fine.  Puzzled of Durham

[themoudie]

Aye Rufus,

Earth connection? Or, partially fractured wires in the feed from the battery?

Refit LED in light box and run 2 temporary wires directly from the battery, should be nice and bright.

May be requires a seperate earth from light box to frame or better earth than present from fixings to light box?

Hope this helps, but electrickery is not my strong point! 

Eat more carrots! 

Bill

[blew]

Is the bike +ive earth? LED bulbs only work with -ve earth. Connect the LEDs the other way?

[themoudie]

See Rufus, " electrickery is not my strong point!". 

Regards, Bill

[spooky]

It is positive earth, and all wired correctly, given up for now, it has to be something simple but just can not see it.. Maybe next week, I will clean the carb instead !
Thanks all..