Directional signal question

[GB SISSON]

I bought a sort of generic china looking directional switch at the Portland swap meet last year and tonight I installed it (mostly)... I have it with a 3 prong flasher and a 15 amp fuse all to the yellow sheet of instructions. The fronts ( I had installed 2 prong parking lights in the fenders, are blinking like a champ. Very bright)I have wires leading aft to the new repro tail lights which have worked perfectly for two years as brake and tail. Well to get my rear tail lights to perform in the normal manner the directions tell me to hook their red wire to the cold side of the brake light switch . Do I disconnect the wire that is already there? To me the brake light circuit always energizes both sides at once while the blinkers obviously work individually . Just hate to screw up a good setup with the poorly worded chinese instructions. I think I am 90 % there with this hookup but need more ifo on this back half. I think if I just put another set of lights on the bumper for blinkers it is straight forward, but entering the brake light switch perplexes me. Thoughts/advice? Thanks. Wanna run this truck with my big flag into town tomorrow, my wife along piloting the jailbar woodie!

[38bill]

Pretty sure that typically the old brake switch wire is abandoned as all it does is light both rear brakes lights. The power for the brakes and flashers now goes through the new turn switch and flasher unit and you need a brake light wire for each side. You could separate the brake lights and use the existing brake light wire for one side and run a new wire to the other side but I like to start will all new wiring. You would probably have to extend the existing wire to reach the new signal wires anyway.

[GB SISSON]

There is no existing wire save for the ones I ran last year. The whole truck is wired with extension cords that were discarded on jobsites. Excellent find strand copper, many colors of vinyl jackets and nicely protected because of that. And free. I ran some long leads toward the tail lights in advance of this.

[cas3]

main question is...how many wires come out of your new turn signal switch? google up turn signal switch with that many wires, and it should show what to do

[TJ]

Follow the instructions. The cold side of the brake switch is correct. The internal switching in the turn switch transfers the electricity to the rear for the brake and turn signals. I'm sure you have the small chrome turn switch that is sold at many swap meets with the yellow instruction sheet. I've used these on a few cars and the instructions are correct.

[Ken Arms]

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I have a blinkie turn signal, It also has a wire to the cold side of brake sw., Think of it this way, when you step on the brake both left and right circuits go through the turn signal unit first and then to rear brake lights un interrupted. once you operate one side or the other the turn unit it interrupts that side. Ken

[GB SISSON]

OK, Thanks all! Yes the chrome one with the yellow instructions. Followed them and you guys to a 'T' and it works perfectly. Well, except no indicator lights work on the switch. Sanded column to bright steel too. Guess I'll check the bulbs, if it uses bulbs in there. I'm already one of those old guys who drives around all day with his right blinker on...., Sheesh.

[TJ]

GB, I think the bub in those switches are 12 volt. Just change to a 6 volt bulb. Usually the spokes on the steering wheel block the light n the switch. I made a small panel that bolts under the dash and put in two LED indicator lights . Much easier to see and you wire them into the front turn signal wires.

[GB SISSON]

Thanks TJ... I'm already 12 volt, so it's not the bulbs. I have a similar setup in my woodie wagon(an old signal stat) and YES the spokes hide the lights very well. I like your idea!

[TJ]

GB, there are factory holes under the dash and I used one of them to mount the bracket. Lots of choices for green leds on E-Bay.