VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt 3 rd. Break Light ?

Has any one purchased & installed a Third Break Light from J & L Enterprises ?

I found the ad in Hemming's,. The product description, instructions and web site are first class. And the price is very reasonable for an LED light.

The reason I'm considering a 3 rd. Break light is;
Safety.
Stock 41 Coupe has rather dim Tail lights.
J&L light goes on rear window w/suction cups, hence No Damage to car.
Wiring can be hidden so no one knows the diff.
Goes on & comes off easily.
Does not effect the visual quality of the car.

I have excellent wiring & Great connections, but it's still hard to see my brake/turn lights, especially in the bright Cal Sun. I have NEW stock bulbs, and I've been warned about halogen light bulbs running "to hot" for the circuit.

I guess my stock circuit would accept the additional break light/turn signal, {?}

Has anyone had experience with this J&L product ? :confused:

In advance I appreciate your responses,
Michael41

Hi Mike,

I don't know anything about the specific light offered by J&L, however you could obtain a center light from several different cars at your local recycling yard. All that would be required is to replace the 12-volt bulb with one rated for 6-volts. This is assuming the vehicle is still 6-volt. If it has been converted, then the original bulb would work, or use one with the LED.

Michael,
I have one on my 31 from J&L it works great! LED really lights things up. Let them know you are from the VCCA I am trying to get them to take an ad in the G&D. it mounts to the inside of the rear window with a suction cup and unplugs when showing! A real nice item. It comes with all the needed instructions real easy to install
John

Got a phone number for them?

860-916-3582 or try www.jandlenterprises.com
John

Thanks guys & John....I knew I could reply on you guys for the right info.

I'll tell him I'm w/VCCA and YES!!!! I will also tell him he NEEDS to advertise in G&D.

Ray, I get your idea. But at times someone like J&L comes up with such a good product that's well planned, nicely developed and reasonably priced I like to support them. Oh by the way, my 41 Coupe is totally and completely stock, except for the "old" Fenton headers and twin pipes. But even with these items I received 960/972 points. So I'm a happy guy.

Michael41

Mike,

Since you're a stickler for grammatical correctness, I'm curious what a "Break" light is? I'm aware of "Brake" lights.

Oh that's an easy one: That means I'm going to buy a new 3 rd. Brake light, so no one runs into my car and breaks it....

Sea ?

Mike:
A neighbor of mine has one on his Model A and it's very bright and clear. Note also that if you have rigged a turnsignal this same unit functions as directional signals too.

Yea Coach, I noticed that about the turn signal. How cool is that ?

I think the car on the product page is a Model A or ??, F**D. "Should-a used-a Chevy"

From the Co. web site you can down load and print the tech sheets. Very well done and it seems so simple to install maybe I can even do it. But I would feel better if I lived next door to Ray or Gene or Don or John or any one that could help. Now how they-d feel about that is a HOLE nother story...

But seriously I plan on ordering mine this weekend when I'm home. Maybe then I'll find out where the "stickler" goes...must connect to the hot-wire ground-lead thingy-switch or something.

Michael41

I got a web page but couldn't find anything about a brake light.
what gives?

My mistake, I just checked the ad in the AACA magazine it is, wwwjandlenterprise.com
John
If you tour or drive yuor car in traffic it is a must! It will even hook into your turn signals

Won't work without the dot between www and jandlenterprise.com.

www.jandlenterprise.com


:) :grin:

Well, Thanks Skippy,
What a difference a period does make! .....in more ways than one.

Even if it is shown on a F0RD, I think it is worth showing


NOTE: See the image HERE

Michael:
One thing I forgot to mention is that these lights work very well on "A's" and older Chevies like John's because the rear window is vertical. The LEDs have a narrow beam and a sloped rear window may cause the lights to be less visible to the car behind you. You may have to adjust or modify the mounting device to angle the lights so they are at their maximum brightness/visibility.

Coach, Great observation, I was wondering about this. I say "wondering" because I don't know squat about LED light beams.

As you may know a 41 Coupe's Rear Window is pretty well slanted. In reading the tech sheet the light mounts to suction cups that attach to the glass. :confused: Sooooooooo if there's to much "slope/angle" and causes the light to be less visible, adjustment is always an a GOOD option. Heck. adjustment is always a good plan.

And I'm always ready with the old car hobby phrase, "Someone hand me the pliers and that big-*** mallet!"

Thanks again everyone, I'll keep ya-all posted. And I'll take a few pics once it's installed. So keep your fingers crossed.
Michael41

Hi Mike,

Just looked at the J&L website....that light looks good. Take anther look, Mike; they offer a set of brackets just to mount it on a sloped or slanted rear window so the light is adjustable for proper viewing level. Click on manuals, then "brackets".

With those brackets and suction cups, this light would even work on my aero's rear window (which points to the sky).

You guys are so far ahead of me, Yikes!!

How about ya-all come on over to my garage, I'll serve the Beer and you guys can install the light. Sounds like a win-win to me. Can't do it in Ken's garage, we'd All freeze to death.

Update: I just got off the phone w/ John of J & L. Could not have been a nicer more accommodating guy. Told me a small slant, maybe 20 degrees is ok for the light, but when you get into 30+ he suggests the brackets. And told me if I did NOT use the brackets to return them for a refund.

So another cool, Friendly, knowledgeable and very accommodating car hobby guy.
I HIGHLY recommend doing biz w/ J. & L.


Thanks guys, I'll keep ya-all posted on how the Installation goes.
Michael41

Mike, I'd be glad to come and brang my 2# hammer and my 19.5 volt screwdriver-drill and my 12 inch wire cutters, those are the tools I use most of the time, BUT, I got nearly scared out of my hide today when I took my wife to the doctor. The price of regular unleaded went to $3.059!!!

I am afraid I may have to stay around our place here in Poverty Sinks for a couple of weeks, until I get over the shock!!!.
:vcca: :vcca: :vcca:

$3.05 ? We been paying a lot more than that in the L.A. Area. actually been close to 4-bucks here a time of two.

Get this I drive a MBZ Diesel and even that product, which we all know is one step before BBQ Lighter fluid is over $3.00.

Those Oil Guys know we have no alternative. Guess that's why the Oil Co. profits are in the BILLIONS.

Can't complain however, bought oil stock 2 years ago....so I pay on one end and get some back on the other.
Michael41

Yeah, but Mike all of you Left Coasters are rich folks, and have jobs makin' BIG money and money grows on trees and you can pick up gold nuggets ofen the ground! out here in the sticks and Poverty Sinks we is pore old unemployed retired folks, and we aren't used to them high prices!

Hey Mike,

It's soooooo cold in my garage, the beer is frozen!! :cry:

That's why I switch to manhattans in the winter time....good antifreeze.... :grin: :whistle:

Maybe we could burn the stack of firewood that's in the garage, then I won't have to worry about backing into it again!!!

Ken, cold weather may not all be bad news for you. We have had a fairly warm winter, after a very wet summer, so warm that I killed a mosquito outside yesterday. I bet that has not happened at your place in a couple of weeks.

I hope you are able to save some of that beer! Is it true that when you spit it freezes before it hits the ground and shatters like breaking glass when it hits the frozen ground? Now that is cold!

Hey MACK--We started off with a warm winter but have had snow storms with 8" of snow and yesterdy it came an ice storm and its colder than ole Bill Thunder, Yesssirree Bobtail. Aint seen no skeeters. Did you tell that ole -boy youse sa poor ya been eatin the putty outa da winders??

hoppy

Hoppy, Durn near! It is going to be 78* here today I gotta get the garden dug up and rows made so that when my SS check comes in I can plant some onions, beans, cabbage and taters or we may have to eat the putty out of our windors.

Mike, I don't know why the difference, here Diesel runs 25 to 30 cents higher per gallon than unleaded, and it has been that way for a couple of years.

Hey guys? do you like this better? (no advertising),It does take lots more time to crop and paste, upload to a photo service website then paste the URL into the image window.....but I want to do what is right.

[img][IMG]http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1180/4341552/17692510/305586677.jpg[/img][/img]

[img][IMG]http://pic1.picturetrail.com/VOL1180/4341552/17692510/305586679.jpg[/img][/img]

wow... good job cropping the photo... you beat me to it!

Good.. that gives me more time to work on a new posting for the Members Only section on the web site. Look for it on Sunday!

This is a bit off topic, but it may be the place to ask about the color of turn signal lamps most of you think I should use on the rear and the front of my 1928. The Filling Station has them in both amber and red. I am leaning toward red for the rear and the amber for the front. I considered using the cowl lights for front turn signals but I don't think their placement up on the cowl will be effective. I don't plan to have the car judged. It has a decent body and drivetrain but the interior is original and worn. It is a good touring car. I intend to make brackets and mount the lamps a couple of inches above and behind the bumpers both front and rear. I probably will also use the rear lamps as brake lights, with the original in its proper place in the middle of the spare tire. I think one of the LED 3rd brake lamps will be a big improvement in the safety of driving old Klinkerbelle. Giving hand signals just don't cut the mustard in the 21st century, every one thinks I am waveing hello to them, or worse....then I suppose it won't be too long until I install seat belts.

Mack:
That is the color choice I used for the recent addition of turn signals on Old Blue ('37 half ton). It seems to work fine, so far. I too had interesting experiences with the hand signals and near miss collisions. I made brakets out of .25 inch thick sheet aluminum then painted them black.
37Blue

Thanks 37Blue, I have some aluminum strap about 1/4" thick by 1 1/2". That should work for the 28. If I do use them for combination turn signals I guess the rears better be red. I need to turn in an order for the filling station for some of their nice 6 volt lights and a socket for the turn flasher, I got a nice turn signal switch on eBay. I haven't seen one exactly like it. It has a green bullet shaped pilot bulb on the end of the turn handle. It was pretty good for the $9.95 minimum bid.

Mack:
I looked a long while for front lights that would look "period correct". One of my buddies suggested I look at Harley Davidson (HD) motorcycle turn signal lights. They turned out to be a near perfect miniturized version of the bug eye head lights on Old Blue. I went to a cycle shop and found non HD brand lights with the same look for a fraction the price of the HD lights.

Hope you have an easier time wiring the switch and lights than I did. You might recall my posts from last Fall seeking advice. Learned a lot, but what a hassle for a neophyte without a wiring diagrame for the truck and incomplete switch wiring instructions.

37Blue

It seems like rear turn signals on modern cars are amber or yellow. That might look better - and - be more visible also. Just a thought...

Yes, but I should have said combination turn signals AND STOP LIGHTS, I was told that the turn signals are amber only if the red stop lights are seperate lights.

37Blue, thanks for the heads up. I have also looked at Harley Davidson and other motorcycle lights. J.C. Whitney has a very nice variety, square, round, bullet in chrome and painted, with minature visors and even some with a metal lens guard with slots or louvers. They are a dollar or two less price than The Filling Stations, but they don't come with six volt bulbs, that would require changing out the 12 v for six volt, and I like the way those at The Filling Station look.

As a final report on my first listing regarding 3 rd. Brake Light.

I got it, it's cool, well designed and I will be installed this weekend. And the people I contacted could NOT have been more helpful and nice.

And I have Ray & John348's number handy, just in case....
Michael41

I second Mike's thought on this firm. I just ordered one and the owner couldn't have been more professional and helpful. He took the time to give me some hints on installation. He also gives you a week before he charges your credit card in case you are not satisified; and if it ever breaks, he will replace it.

Thanks all who took part in this discussion.

David

Mike. While I appreciate your thread on brake lights I can't let your blaming the oil companies for your high price of gas and diesel pass without comment. The higher prices you pay for gas and diesel in CA is due to California's high taxes and strict regulations --- which are in addition to the Federal taxes and regulations (including the mandated new diesel fuel which is much more expensive) that the rest of us pay. Bottom line is that the states and the federal government make more off a gallon of gas than the profit of oil companies on a gallon of gas.

Dr. David....Umm, it appears you missed the last statement I made: "Can't complain however, bought oil stock 2 years ago." And I speak of profit as a good thing especially when I get my dividend checks.

Interesting fact {Via Stanford Business School} "Never before in the history of American biz has one industry profited so well on it's investments and products {as Oil Co.}."

From my perspective, that's just good old american ingenuity at work and working well. Yes sir, Ol' Sam Walton would be proud.

But thanks for the California tax & economics lesson. Always nice to know there are people in the know.

Enjoy the ride,
Michael41
aka: Dr. Mike

I did not intend to suggest that you were anti-capitalist, and I am sorry if you took it that way. As one who owns energy equities and options, I, like you, more than pay for my gasoline (for 4 vehicles) from these investments. While I did read the part about your dividends, I just thought the comment about your high gasoline prices compared to other states, and putting blame on oil companies, was neglecting the most important variables in the price of gasoline (not just in CA) and that they are government regulations and taxes. Just wanted to make sure the oil companies didn't get all the blame. The large difference between the price of a gallon of gas in LA vs here in Scottsdale, AZ is not due to the oil companies.

And let's face it, a major part of so-called oil companies' profits come from products other than gasoline; and in many cases, the majority of the profits come from outside the United States. Actually, given all of the above it contantly surprises me that in most places gasoline costs less today (inflation adjusted) than it did in the 1970's.

I wonder if Stanford ever heard of Microsoft. Last I read, Microsoft's ROI and profit margins were far greater than any oil company's.

Again, thanks for the topic on the third brake light. I bought one and look forward to receiving it. I have seem them before but until I read this thread, did not know they came in 6V.

Remember, even Maynard Keynes later in life came to agree that Ludwig Von Mises was right about capitalism.

Buy low, sell high, and keep on truckin'!!!

David

Yes, oil investments have worked well for us. We took a pretty good hit right after the Enron fiesco but instead of cussing about our losses we bought more. I put my earnings into my 401K, no company or Union pension scheme, no rollover.
Our investments went from $48/share down to $26/ a share, so we bought a bunch of $26 shares,..... sold our used to be good stuff like GM and Ford...and added to our mineral rights, which we bought from unhappy royalty owners. and now we are ok until the next big drop in oil prices. I am not too worried since I have based my profitability on $20 a barrel oil. If I die penniless it will be my fault, not a union organizer or a slick shoed, bright tie money guy, after all it happens in the best of families...It is a no-brainer for me since I am 3rd generation oilfield. Need I say the "H" word (Halliburton). Just ask your self...Who owns the oil companies? Why not me?

Besides at my age, it does not take a lot to make me happy, reasonable good health (I didn't see my name in the Obits this AM), Medicare! because the government will take care of us, a smile from my female pard and our grown brats, and them grandchildern', a smooth running Chevy six or four, a good cold margarita, a burned piece of a fattened steer's butt, with a baked tater, and a bowl of banana pudding and that is about it!
The simple life.....Giving more than you receive....You can't take it with you........

Good post. My cousin owns a company in Houston that sells valves that measure flow to the oil industry and others in US, Europe, and South America. When the price of oil is up, he sells valves, when it is down, he plays golf and waits and hopes his money lasts. A lot of people today do not remember when many companies had to cap off wells because they couldn't even cover variable costs.

I totally agree about self-responsibility. If it broke, I broke it, not society.

We often spend part of Spring in Texas. One of the great states.

David

It is not only the US governments (state and federal). Here in Aus between the 2 levels Goverment ends up with 70% of every $ spent on fuel.
Tony