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Wyatt Earp Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2018 Posts: 18 Location: Southampton UK
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Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 12:01 pm Post subject: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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I have two single filament festoon lamps in the rear light assemblies of my newly arrived 56 Lowlight. Please see the picture below.
Currently they are set up as amber top lens for turn signal and brake light, and the red bottom lens for normal back light. I now have some led light boards which I would like to install as follows: amber turn signal only for the top amber lens and a combined normal back light and brake light for bottom red lens. This is the correct spec for a combined amber and red lens in the UK. I have looked all over the samba for someone’s instructions on how to do it but I can’t seem to see what I need. I’m thinking that I will need to run a new wire up to each rear wing to power the brake light circuit because there are presently only two supplies to that light assembly.
Don’t be fooled by the two white and red wires screwed into the terminal block in the photo, one is the supply in for the back light, and the other is the loop onto the number plate lights.
For those who are electrically minded you can find the circuit diagram here:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/56-57ghia_US_600dpi.jpg
It looks as though the 6v from the brake light switch goes through the indicator switch assembly and that’s why it only uses the one wire for brake lights and turn signal. Perhaps it might be just a simple bypass of this wire directly to the back lights to power the brake lights directly?
I hope that I have explained this correctly and I would be grateful for any ideas.
Thanks
Nick
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itsawesty Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2016 Posts: 101 Location: St Albans, UK
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itsawesty Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2016 Posts: 101 Location: St Albans, UK
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13943 Location: Southampton U.K.
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Disc Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2009 Posts: 555 Location: Europe
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:52 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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John Moxon wrote: |
As you say the later mid '57>are simple swapping the brake light wire top to bottom. |
That's probably wont work, as the brake light wire carry also the turn signal and the indicator stalk do the work to switch the signal in that cable from brakes to indicators. If you just swap brake light wire top to bottom you'll move the turn signal/brake light from top to bottom and running light from bottom to top. In original state two single filament festoon lamps do the job just fine - top turn signal/brake light is 21W and bottom running light 5W. In order to have indicator on top and brake/running light on bottom you need 2 filament bulb on the bottom (running light 5W/brake light 21W). 5W and 21W are spec for 12V systems. In 6V system those are respectively 5W and 18W but that doesn't matter in this case. _________________ The glory never gets old, just need new paint.
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Nick |
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Disc Samba Member
Joined: September 24, 2009 Posts: 555 Location: Europe
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 4:03 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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Wyatt Earp,
You are on a right track. You need to pull a wire from the brake light switch to the back of the car and then split it to left and right (easier than putting 2 wires) but then your led light boards must be 2 "filament" to do the job. Basically you can use wiring diagram for later model year like:
_________________ The glory never gets old, just need new paint.
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Nick |
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Wyatt Earp Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2018 Posts: 18 Location: Southampton UK
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 4:26 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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Thanks guys, Disc and itsawesty, between the two of you I think I know what to do now. Hoping to have a go at the end of the week. I will report back on how it goes.
Thanks again.
Wyatt |
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itsawesty Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2016 Posts: 101 Location: St Albans, UK
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 6:00 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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are you converting to bayonet bulbs? Ive never seen dual filament festoon bulbs.
the bakelight bulb caps on my light units needed replaced, i swapped them out for single bayonet bulb holders, like these but single (posting dual versions as they’re prob more relevant)
https://www.rotatingelectrics.co.uk/ba15d-bulb-hol...rgo-170596
I ended up sticking with the factory functionality, as it is ‘MOT’ compliant and legal but added a 3rd brakelight for safety and the fact most UK drivers wont know what is going on flashy red turn signal but not when braking malarky _________________ '59 Ghia build thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737729
'73 Westy
'90 Scirocco
2003 911
www.hertfordshirevehiclestorage.com |
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itsawesty Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2016 Posts: 101 Location: St Albans, UK
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 6:05 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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Disc wrote: |
John Moxon wrote: |
As you say the later mid '57>are simple swapping the brake light wire top to bottom. |
That's probably wont work, as the brake light wire carry also the turn signal and the indicator stalk do the work to switch the signal in that cable from brakes to indicators. If you just swap brake light wire top to bottom you'll move the turn signal/brake light from top to bottom and running light from bottom to top. In original state two single filament festoon lamps do the job just fine - top turn signal/brake light is 21W and bottom running light 5W. In order to have indicator on top and brake/running light on bottom you need 2 filament bulb on the bottom (running light 5W/brake light 21W). 5W and 21W are spec for 12V systems. In 6V system those are respectively 5W and 18W but that doesn't matter in this case. |
does that mean EU spec with amber top reflector has an amber brake light? Or is the wiring different EU spec..... _________________ '59 Ghia build thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737729
'73 Westy
'90 Scirocco
2003 911
www.hertfordshirevehiclestorage.com |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13943 Location: Southampton U.K.
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:59 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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itsawesty wrote: |
Disc wrote: |
John Moxon wrote: |
As you say the later mid '57>are simple swapping the brake light wire top to bottom. |
That's probably wont work, as the brake light wire carry also the turn signal and the indicator stalk do the work to switch the signal in that cable from brakes to indicators. If you just swap brake light wire top to bottom you'll move the turn signal/brake light from top to bottom and running light from bottom to top. In original state two single filament festoon lamps do the job just fine - top turn signal/brake light is 21W and bottom running light 5W. In order to have indicator on top and brake/running light on bottom you need 2 filament bulb on the bottom (running light 5W/brake light 21W). 5W and 21W are spec for 12V systems. In 6V system those are respectively 5W and 18W but that doesn't matter in this case. |
does that mean EU spec with amber top reflector has an amber brake light? Or is the wiring different EU spec..... |
Top brake and indicator light is US spec only. US spec rear lights were all red. _________________ John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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itsawesty Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2016 Posts: 101 Location: St Albans, UK
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 9:52 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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The wiring must be different EU spec then if ONLY US spec had the top lamp as both brake/indicator.
Any EU spec lowlight owner around to confirm one way or the other? I'd be really interested to know if/how EU spec had a dual filament brake/tail light, and the required wiring. _________________ '59 Ghia build thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737729
'73 Westy
'90 Scirocco
2003 911
www.hertfordshirevehiclestorage.com |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13943 Location: Southampton U.K.
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chris fryer Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2017 Posts: 82 Location: Australia
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aerosilver Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2006 Posts: 878 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 8:53 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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John Moxon wrote: |
itsawesty wrote: |
The wiring must be different EU spec then if ONLY US spec had the top lamp as both brake/indicator.
Any EU spec lowlight owner around to confirm one way or the other? I'd be really interested to know if/how EU spec had a dual filament brake/tail light, and the required wiring. |
Yes "aerosilver" and "RockStock" and "udo dreisoerner" and a few more. |
Mine and R.S's have US spec rear lights |
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John Moxon Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004 Posts: 13943 Location: Southampton U.K.
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 9:14 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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aerosilver wrote: |
John Moxon wrote: |
itsawesty wrote: |
The wiring must be different EU spec then if ONLY US spec had the top lamp as both brake/indicator.
Any EU spec lowlight owner around to confirm one way or the other? I'd be really interested to know if/how EU spec had a dual filament brake/tail light, and the required wiring. |
Yes "aerosilver" and "RockStock" and "udo dreisoerner" and a few more. |
Mine and R.S's have US spec rear lights |
Yes I know the US configuration is legally acceptable in the UK and by that token mainland Europe too but...
Are you still using incandescents Russ? _________________ John.
Judson Supercharger Information on The Samba
My 1958 Shorrock Supercharged Karmann Ghia
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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aerosilver Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2006 Posts: 878 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2020 11:50 am Post subject: Re: 56 Lowlight rear light wiring to Euro standard - how can I do it |
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Yes, Festoon bulbs, 6V. |
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