Wiring Stop Tail and Turn Signal Lights on a Motorcycle with Separate Turn Signals and Brake Lights

Updated 04/18/2014 | Published 04/17/2014

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Question:

Im trying to wire two taillights one on m/c and one on a sidecar. Tail lights are single bulb two filament and would require a converter for signal/ brake application. I have completely wired the motorcycle and have functioning leads for signal, brake and tail light. Wired direct every thing works but naturally the blinking signal stops when brakes are applied. The Hopkins converter when wired in does not give any power out. Im guessing that since there arent separate vehicle taillights present since both lights are on the back end of the circuit that the converter will not work. Picture wiring a trailer to a car without the car having tail lights. Hoping you might have a suggestion for this problem.

asked by: Jack B

Expert Reply:

So it sounds like on the motorcycle you have working turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights. So you just need the proper converter to go from the separate signals to combined. You can use converter # RM-732. This is a non-powered converter that will take the separate brake and turn signals and combine them.

You would attach the bike brake light wire to the red wire on the harness. Attach the motorcycle left turn signal wire to the harness yellow wire. Connect motorcycle right turn signal wire to the harness green wire. The running light wire will bypass this converter.

The white wire from the harness will need to ground to the motorcycle frame.

The running light wire will need a jumper to go from one tail light to the other. The yellow output wire would then be left turn and brake lights and the green output wire would be right turn and brake lights. The brake lights should not override the turn signals.

expert reply by: Michael H