The Ford Barn

Old Henry · 03-06-2012, 10:36 AM

Just thought you might like to know that Ron Francis' low pressure brake light switch that's supposed to last much longer than the stock switch and cost three times as much lasted me two months. I'm running halogen bulbs for brake lights. It may be that the current was just too high for the switch. Interesting thing is that the switch failed stuck on instead of stuck off like the stock switches do when they fail. Maybe the contacts arced together because of the high current. I'm putting the stock one back in. At least I got a year out of them.

Bill S · 03-06-2012, 10:41 AM

A few years ago I installed one of the switches and it leaked. I was unable to stop the switch from leaking.

Ken/Alabama · 03-06-2012, 11:07 AM

Halogen bulbs draw too much current for these switches. What I did was installed a horn relay on the frame rail close to the master cylinder so now it takes the load and all the switch on the master cylinder does is make and break the ground to operate the relay. Mine has been in service now for about 6 years.

TomO · 03-06-2012, 11:13 AM

Ditch the halogen tail lights. They draw too much current for the wiring in a Ford.

You can install flashlight reflectors behind the stock bulbs and get lights that are bright enough to see under all conditions, except having blue dots.

Ken/Alabama · 03-06-2012, 11:38 AM

Im using 32 Ford headlight bulbs in my taillights.

Old Henry · 03-06-2012, 02:58 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by TomO

Ditch the halogen tail lights. They draw too much current for the wiring in a Ford.

You can install flashlight reflectors behind the stock bulbs and get lights that are bright enough to see under all conditions, except having blue dots.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken/Alabama

Halogen bulbs draw too much current for these switches. What I did was installed a horn relay on the frame rail close to the master cylinder so now it takes the load and all the switch on the master cylinder does is make and break the ground to operate the relay. Mine has been in service now for about 6 years.

I knew the stock wiring wouldn't light up my halogen brake lights. In fact, I had to wire them with 9 gauge wire from the battery. I run blue dot lenses so needed bright bulbs. I like the idea of a relay. I hadn't thought of that.

Lawson Cox · 03-06-2012, 03:12 PM

On my 35 PU I painted the insides of the tail light bodies gloss white. Put out Plenty of light. I have a Harley Davidson stop light switch on mine, silicone brake fluid.

03-06-2012, 10:36 AM	#1
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	Francis Stop Light Switch Fail Just thought you might like to know that Ron Francis' low pressure brake light switch that's supposed to last much longer than the stock switch and cost three times as much lasted me two months. I'm running halogen bulbs for brake lights. It may be that the current was just too high for the switch. Interesting thing is that the switch failed stuck on instead of stuck off like the stock switches do when they fail. Maybe the contacts arced together because of the high current. I'm putting the stock one back in. At least I got a year out of them. __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness Last edited by Old Henry; 05-29-2013 at 10:14 AM.*

03-06-2012, 10:41 AM	#2
Bill S Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: H.B. So. Calif Posts: 411	Re: Francis Stop Light Switch Fail A few years ago I installed one of the switches and it leaked. I was unable to stop the switch from leaking.

03-06-2012, 11:07 AM	#3
Ken/Alabama Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,261	Re: Francis Stop Light Switch Fail Halogen bulbs draw too much current for these switches. What I did was installed a horn relay on the frame rail close to the master cylinder so now it takes the load and all the switch on the master cylinder does is make and break the ground to operate the relay. Mine has been in service now for about 6 years.

03-06-2012, 11:13 AM	#4
TomO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 362	Re: Francis Stop Light Switch Fail Ditch the halogen tail lights. They draw too much current for the wiring in a Ford. You can install flashlight reflectors behind the stock bulbs and get lights that are bright enough to see under all conditions, except having blue dots. __________________ TomO

03-06-2012, 11:38 AM	#5
Ken/Alabama Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,261	Re: Francis Stop Light Switch Fail Im using 32 Ford headlight bulbs in my taillights.

03-06-2012, 03:12 PM	#7
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Francis Stop Light Switch Fail On my 35 PU I painted the insides of the tail light bodies gloss white. Put out Plenty of light. I have a Harley Davidson stop light switch on mine, silicone brake fluid.