1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

3rd brake light LED strip installation

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Light, Jul 6, 2021.

  1. Light

    Light New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2021
    10
    3
    0
    Location:
    33534
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So I bought an led strip for a third brake light and tried to install it today. After taking everything apart I found that I could not find the right wires to plug the led strip into and thus made my best guess. I found zero online to help and the instructions in the package were very hard to understand. Can anybody help before I end up returning yhis? 20210706_073951.jpeg 20210706_073943.jpeg 20210706_073937.jpeg 20210706_073932.jpeg 20210706_102133.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    Burna J likes this.
  2. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2014
    1,240
    692
    0
    Location:
    Cedar Crest, NM, USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    get a multi-meter (like a cheap one at harbor-freight), squeeze a hammer (or a piece of wood or whatever you have handy) between the underside of the dashboard & the brake pedal (so that the brake lights are activated), now set the multimeter to VDC, contact the black cable from the multimeter to ground (a blank screw or something like that), probe with the red cable your contacts in the connector & see which one is hot (meaning: which one shows some voltage above 12v) /
     
    Light likes this.
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,270
    15,067
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Isn't the factory 3rd brake light already an LED strip?
     
    Light and Grit like this.
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,109
    4,038
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    4th brake light, the ones that flickers 3 times then stays lit. That oughtta drive drivers behind bonkers.
     
  5. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
    1,205
    326
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Light likes this.
  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,893
    3,160
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    "To alert drivers behind me, I am braking..." Doesn't the actually brake like coming on alert the
    drivers behind me that I'm braking??????????? The blinking mean you want to piss off the one
    behind you!

    And having the 3rd "brake" light on on the time would make drivers wonder if your brake lights
    were stuck on or are you braking????

     
    Grit likes this.
  7. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
    1,205
    326
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    If it pisses them off that means they are paying attention! I take it you've never had anyone drive into the back of the vehicle you are driving?

    Regarding your comment about thinking my brake light is on is inaccurate, there is a clear delineation between brake and running.

    More than welcome to try again and I am glad you actually read the post, kudos to you!
     
    Light likes this.
  8. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,893
    3,160
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    "More than welcome to try again"
    Try what again????? I didn't try anything before.

    Just what I want to do, piss off other drivers....
    And yes, I've had someone drive into the back of my car...

    What I was stating was, I do not know of, nor have I ever seen/notice the "3rd brake light" on as a running light.
    I read the post, and went to the page, that's how I knew how to respond.

    There is no reason to be so defensive. If you like the device, and it makes you feel good, then it was $50 well spent.


     
    Grit likes this.
  9. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,109
    4,038
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    my replies are like that on here. It makes them read andor pay attention
     
    Light likes this.
  10. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,109
    4,038
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    most people have their heads pointing down toward their smartphones so brake lights are almost useless now.

    the op does have a good idea to piss people off- drivers behind will stray their eyes’ away from their phones and stare right into the strobing brake light warning. Red flash-flash-flash.
     
    Light likes this.
  11. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,270
    15,067
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Enough cars around here have those—I don't know, maybe one in 30—that I've seen them enough to recognize that mechanical strobe-like blinking. As soon as I figure out "yeah, that guy isn't panic braking at every stop sign, he just has one of those", I'm pretty well able to tune it back out.

    The one risk there is I might be slower to catch it if he ever really does panic brake. But that's just the familiar downside of crying wolf.
     
  12. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
    1,205
    326
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Ha! Definitely not defensive
     
  13. Light

    Light New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2021
    10
    3
    0
    Location:
    33534
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks I'll try it

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. Light

    Light New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2021
    10
    3
    0
    Location:
    33534
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It's small and I wanted to add one that was bigger and brighter

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  15. Light

    Light New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2021
    10
    3
    0
    Location:
    33534
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two