High Mounted 3rd Brake Strobe Light, A few pics, video and contacts, $7.94 total! Options

[oakdalecurtis]

Finally attached an LED high mount 3rd brake light. Added a strobe module to make it really pop.



Here's a short video of it in action. If you watch it in slow mo, you can see the LED lights come on significantly before the car's incandescent brake light bulbs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaQ6msHbFbA

I drilled holes in the LED side mounts so I could use small screws to attach it to the underside of the targa bar instead of just the sticky tape on it. The small holes in the curved mounts' exterior allow screwdriver access to the screws inside the mount. I had to remove the engine lid to allow my drill to fit under the targa bar to drill the small pilot holes for the mounting screws. I ran the thin LED dual wire lead up through another small hole drilled through the LED mount and into the targa bar. Then the wire goes out through a small hole drilled under the rear targa bar chrome trim. After adding a dual wire extension, I ran the wire along under the rear targa trim to the edge trim, then down under that piece. I got the wire into the engine bay through a small downward hole under the side trim and through another small hole in the engine bay side near the trunk hinge attachment point. From there it was easy to follow the existing wire harness back to the brake light connection point. I put the strobe module in-line right there. Do not ground the negative from the LED light before reaching the strobe module since the module needs both positive and negative wires in and out. Ground the negative lead coming out of the strobe module. Finally, using a piggy back connector finishes the connection to the brake light lead without cutting any harness's. Btw, here's a link to the LED light at Amazon for $1.85 and free shipping! Don't know how the can do that!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-14-LED-Car-Aut...Nv4&vxp=mtr

And here's a link to the strobe module for $6.09 and free shipping.

https://www.amazon.com/CARCHET-Strobe-Contr...e/dp/B00I4J35HY

A little wire and $7.94 and you're in business!

[eriqx]

nice work! very clean.

and super-necessary considering how low and invisible I feel in the 914 on a regular basis.

[Mark Henry]

No good for me....it blocks the rear view mirror view.

[oakdalecurtis]

No good for me....it blocks the rear view mirror view.

That's what I was worried about too Mark. Here's a pic of the mirror view from my seating position. Unless you're looking for low flying planes, I don't think the view is a problem at all.

[BillC]

What about flipping it over and mounting it to the grille on the engine lid cover? Putting it there would require no drilling, and should still be pretty visible to large vehicles behind the car.

[oakdalecurtis]

What about flipping it over and mounting it to the grille on the engine lid cover? Putting it there would require no drilling, and should still be pretty visible to large vehicles behind the car.

Thought about grill placement. It just looked more appropriate to my eye under the targa bar, and I also figuered the higher up the better for visibility. Jmo.

[RickS]

Rather than reinvent the wheel, buy one of these. I have one on the 914 tucked up on the outside of targa bar which does not block visibility at all. No issues for 4 years. Also one on the SC inside the top of the rear window, with no impairment. I did not connect the running light wire since I didn't want the Cylon/Knight Rider thing. With the brake pressed, it provides a very bright 4 flashes before going solid red. Really like the small size, brightness and strobing. I attached with double sided 3M tape.

http://www.customdynamics.com/knight_rider_led_light_bar.htm

Props to the OP on his method and buget price since these cost $30 with free shipping. .

[RickS]

Pic of the light.

[87m491]

Given the small size, I was thinking double sided tape to mount was a no brainer. It seems what these guys use. I'll check them out, for the bikes too! Don't want to add any holes to the 914.

Rather than reinvent the wheel, buy one of these. I have one on the 914 tucked up on the outside of targa bar which does not block visibility at all. No issues for 4 years. Also one on the SC inside the top of the rear window, with no impairment. I did not connect the running light wire since I didn't want the Cylon/Knight Rider thing. With the brake pressed, it provides a very bright 4 flashes before going solid red. Really like the small size, brightness and strobing. I attached with double sided 3M tape.

http://www.customdynamics.com/knight_rider_led_light_bar.htm

Props to the OP on his method and buget price since these cost $30 with free shipping. .

[mepstein]

Im going to try some of the little, high strength magnets, superglued to the light.

[Keith914]

Here is my application with a 2 foot strip inside - upper four short strips are reflectors.

[Keith914]

Here is my application with a 2 foot strip inside - upper four short strips are reflectors.

Oops! here it is.

[Spoke]

Finally attached an LED high mount 3rd brake light. Added a strobe module to make it really pop.

Looks great! Good job.

All 914's should have a 3rd brake light and probably should be mounted on the roll hoop to be as high as possible. Even then the 3rd brake light will probably only be as high as a wheel of some of those big SUV's.

[oakdalecurtis]

A couple of things to consider if you plan on adding a third brake light. Based on some experimentation, if you mount the light inside the rear window, you will see the reflection of the bright LED's at night when it goes on, very distracting. And regardless of where you mount it, if you can actually see the LED's go on in your rearview mirror, it will be very distracting in your mirror at night every time you apply the brakes. Just some things to think about when choosing the type and placement of a third brake light.

[Spoke]

A couple of things to consider if you plan on adding a third brake light. Based on some experimentation, if you mount the light inside the rear window, you will see the reflection of the bright LED's at night when it goes on, very distracting. And regardless of where you mount it, if you can actually see the LED's go on in your rearview mirror, it will be very distracting in your mirror at night every time you apply the brakes. Just some things to think about when choosing the type and placement of a third brake light.

I had the same issue with the 3rd brake light causing a lot of light energy to be observed hitting the engine lid and visible in the rear view mirror.

A solution to cut down on most of the unwanted light energy is to block off the top and bottom of the lens like shown below. Either with paint or tape. This will not diminish the light output to the rear but will cut down on the extraneous light coming back into the cabin.

[dangrouche]

Hey oakldalecurtis, a trademark infringement!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) , you'll hear from my attorney. good blend in job !!

BTDT

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=212499

[oakdalecurtis]

Hey oakldalecurtis, a trademark infringement!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) , you'll hear from m attorney. good blend in job !!

BTDT

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=212499

Wow Dangr, great minds think alike!

[anderssj]

Im going to try some of the little, high strength magnets, superglued to the light.

That's how I attached mine . . . also a quick disconnect for the wiring. I can remove it all in a couple of minutes if I needed to. Going on 5 years with no problems.



The light is from a Volvo V70 (I think), with the same strobe module as oakdalecurtis.

BTW, I used a piece of thin mouse pad on the magnets so they won't mar the paint (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Keith914]

A couple of things to consider if you plan on adding a third brake light. Based on some experimentation, if you mount the light inside the rear window, you will see the reflection of the bright LED's at night when it goes on, very distracting. And regardless of where you mount it, if you can actually see the LED's go on in your rearview mirror, it will be very distracting in your mirror at night every time you apply the brakes. Just some things to think about when choosing the type and placement of a third brake light.

In my case there is no negative impact on my rearview mirror images - no issue.

[mepstein]

Im going to try some of the little, high strength magnets, superglued to the light.

That's how I attached mine . . . also a quick disconnect for the wiring. I can remove it all in a couple of minutes if I needed to. Going on 5 years with no problems.


The light is from a Volvo V70 (I think), with the same strobe module as oakdalecurtis.

BTW, I used a piece of thin mouse pad on the magnets so they won't mar the paint (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I already have the patent. You owe me money! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)