Brake light modulator install

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:49 pm

I was browsing around superbrightleds.com, looking for some good deadlight-replacement bulbs, when I stumbled on the LSC-100A Brake Light Strobe Module for a whopping $4.95. Since this was about 10% of the cost of the Back Off brake mod unit, I was intrigued.

The website says that it's suitable only for LED taillights, so don't shout at me if you install it in an older incandescent brake light assembly and Something Goes Wrong.

Since Super Bright LEDs happens to be located here in St. Louis and offers local pickup as a shipping option, I placed an order online at lunchtime Friday and had the unit in my hands by the end of the day.

Following Michelle_7728's excellent instructions in the Tech Library, it was a very easy job to remove the collar underneath the taillights, remove the mudflap, splice in the connections, test, and reassemble inside of 20 minutes. As Michelle did, I used male and female spade lugs to insert the unit along the blue wire, then used a crimp-splicer to connect the unit's black wire to the black ground wire in the harness. These additional parts (2 each insulated spade lugs and a crimp connector) cost a couple bucks at the auto parts store.

The LSC-100A flashes four times very fast, then four times medium-fast, then the brake light stays on until you release. They also offer a LSC-100B that flashes continuously as well, but I didnt' figure that would be a good fit for scooter use.

These units are rated at a maximum of 1.25 amps, but since the newer Buddys have LED tail/brake lights, I figured I was within specs. I couldn't find an exact current draw for the LED brake lights, but I figured it couldn't be more than 15 watts. So far, so good!

Here's a cellphone video of my scoot - the high-speed flash may not be too visible due to the camera's frame rate, but you get the idea.

Here's superbrightled's demonstration video, which is a little more clear.

So, for a total investment of 20 minutes and about seven bucks, I've got a pretty cool brake light modulator installed. Hopefully it makes me a little more visible at night.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Sun Mar 27, 2011 3:03 am

that's great, thanks for the write up and review! I bookmarked that link for a later date. Give it a few weeks to see if you update with any issues, otherwise I'm sold.

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 3:32 am

I like that a lot! A brake light modulator is one of the best mods to do.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:43 pm

Thanks for the find! I've been wanting to add a brake light modulator. For the price, I think I'll go ahead and do it.

the3rdleonard · Post by **the3rdleonard** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:26 pm

Bravo on the find, and thanks for the heads up!

HowHH · Post by **HowHH** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:56 pm

I ordered one of those too! At that price there is no reason to not install it.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:22 pm

I just did some more checking on other modulator units.

If you have the older Buddy with incandescent taillights, you'll need to use the Back Off XP, which supports both incandescent (and LED) lamps up to 10 amps. $39.95 MSRP.

SuperBrightLEDs also offers the FL2S-10A unit, which will power LEDs up to 10 amps. $7.95, with a slightly bigger plastic box. Looks like it will still fit up under the tail cowling.

Again, without hooking El Buddo up to an ammeter, I really couldn't determine the current load for the brake lights, but empirically, the 1.25 amp LSC-100a unit is working so far.

I couldn't find PosiLock connectors at my local auto parts places, so I used crimp-on spade lugs like Michelle, but I got the insulated kind just to avoid any short-circuits. I also used a blue splice connector (like the one in the picture for the FL2S-10A unit) to tap into the black ground wire. I'll probably open it back up and use either some heat-shrink tubing or some electrical tape and wrap everything up just to be sure.

I finished the installation and took my scoot to the dealer for its first service right before we got 5 inches of snow. I plan to pick it up tonight and go drive it in the dark.

basil46 · Post by **basil46** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:19 pm

I installed front turn signal mods then now also I am thinking about brake mod after read your posting but wonder if I use both same time then cause short- circuit fuse?

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 11:39 pm

Shouldn't matter. It wouldn't cause an actual short circuit unless a positive wire comes in contact with a ground wire or the frame or metal parts of the scoot. Proper connectors and/or insulating tape keep those problems to a minimum.

As far as additional load, there's no reason to believe that modulating the brake light puts any significant additional current drain on the system, especially with LED brake lights. I think you'll be fine.

Lil Buddy's threads talk about the increased load when using the front deadlights as running lights (this may drain the battery but not blow fuses), but I think the consensus is that using the fronts for additional turn signals won't hurt anything. See his excellent write-ups.

DCUNITED4LIFE · Post by **DCUNITED4LIFE** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:08 am

Mine Just Arrived in the mail today! I can't wait to install! Looks awesome. I'm doing the mod to a Blur so I hope the same basic electronics apply although I'm not worried about the current, just getting the right wires (which shouldn't be too hard to figure out, hopefully) all spliced up.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 3:38 am

Here's a diagram of the wiring before and after:

Basically, the taillight side of the connector is where I made the splices. I cut the blue wire and wired in the red leads of the modulator to each of the cut ends (using weatherproof spade connectors). One of the red leads (the one on the 'right hand side' of the unit) is marked to go to the taillight itself. I then spliced the black lead of the modulator to the ground (black) wire using a blue crimp splicer. Works like a champ. I stuck the unit in about the same place as Michelle using the double-stick tape and coiled up the wires neatly.

Hopefully this helps illustrate it a little better.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Wed Apr 06, 2011 7:49 pm

ah what the heck, what's $10 for added piece of mind. I just ordered 2 for the DINKs

Lil Buddy · Post by **Lil Buddy** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:06 am

Well done PeteH.

Would anyone be interested in a plug n' play version of this? Same module but with OEM clips on either end. This way you wouldn't need to cut any wires. Just unplug the stock connector and clip this in-line.

Just curious as I know a guy....

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:14 am

Cool! I hadn't thought of patching into the existing connectors, but assuming the connectors are readily available, that would be a cool installation.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:10 am

Woohoo! Glad you found my link useful.

As for you, Lil Buddy...why am I not surprised that you might "know somebody"......

How is that Black Jack treating you?

Lil Buddy · Post by **Lil Buddy** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:59 am

Black Jack isn't getting much love right now. Have you not noticed the rain?

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:27 am

...and your point is?

Yeah, I hear you. I haven't ridden a lot lately myself. Yuck! What about that hail tonight? Someone told me that someplace in Washington got 6-8 inches of hail? Can that be true?

Definitely not the time to be on the road!

Lil Buddy · Post by **Lil Buddy** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:31 pm

Downtown Tacoma got a trace of snow.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Thu Apr 07, 2011 3:38 pm

I have to (shamefully) admit that I rode my Bud after dark, for the first time since the mod install, last night. Seeing all the flashery reflecting off of parked cars, etc. in my mirrors was, I have to say, pretty cool. It made me release and resqueeze my brakes once or twice at traffic stops just for another look.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:16 pm

anyone have a heads-up on a headlight modulator for that cheap?

Quo Vadimus · Post by **Quo Vadimus** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:57 pm

Lil Buddy wrote:Well done PeteH.

Would anyone be interested in a plug n' play version of this? Same module but with OEM clips on either end. This way you wouldn't need to cut any wires. Just unplug the stock connector and clip this in-line.

Just curious as I know a guy....

I'd be interested.

I'd also be interested in an estimate on a custom unit that was safe for non-LED bulbs (for my Kymco)

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:30 am

I love all of those mods but ....I am too scared to do it , Just out of curiosity, I remember someone posted how to install the brake lights into the stock tail box. Could this break light modulator set up be installed into the tail box?

polianarchy · Post by **polianarchy** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:16 am

Dang it...looks like ericalm & I each deleted a different one of the double posts...AT THE SAME TIME.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:17 am

No reason why not. There are modulators out there for LED or incandescent, depending on what's in the box.

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:13 am

The boxes Genuine has do not come with lights set up but I remember someone coming up with a way to put in lights where reflectors were previously. I don't think they were blinkers though

texepictetus · Post by **texepictetus** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:22 pm

Lil Buddy wrote:Well done PeteH.

Would anyone be interested in a plug n' play version of this? Same module but with OEM clips on either end. This way you wouldn't need to cut any wires. Just unplug the stock connector and clip this in-line.

Just curious as I know a guy....

Umm...that would be a yes.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 5:48 pm

Great find! Just ordered one.

Lil Buddy · Post by **Lil Buddy** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:16 pm

For those interested in a plug n' play version, see here: topic18271.html

SuperFlyBuddy · Post by **SuperFlyBuddy** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 4:45 am

It's been a couple months now, anybody experience any issues with these modulators?

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:41 pm

Mine's still a-winkin' and a-blinkin'. No problems. Athough for the first couple weeks I eyeballed it every time I started up just to make sure nothing came loose!

I've had a couple of nice comments from other riders when they see it. They can't believe it was less expensive than a fancy mochacappufrappiventilatte.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 2:31 pm

SuperFlyBuddy wrote:It's been a couple months now, anybody experience any issues with these modulators?

No problems!

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 3:04 pm

I've had mine on for probably a month and LOVE it.

The biggest change has been that I have had to train myself not to manually flash my brake lights anymore.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 3:42 pm

jmazza wrote:The biggest change has been that I have had to train myself not to manually flash my brake lights anymore.

See, now that could be a problem, because I worked hard to retrain my, um, middle finger to flash the brake lights instead of give that other signal. Now what is he going to do? Not go back to his old bad habits, I hope.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 5:24 pm

jrsjr wrote:
jmazza wrote:The biggest change has been that I have had to train myself not to manually flash my brake lights anymore.
See, now that could be a problem, because I worked hard to retrain my, um, middle finger to flash the brake lights instead of give that other signal. Now what is he going to do? Not go back to his old bad habits, I hope.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:46 pm

all good my way so far, very satisfied with the mod.

SuperFlyBuddy · Post by **SuperFlyBuddy** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 2:19 am

Glad to hear they're working out. I'm leaning towards the fast flash for two seconds then solid. There's something that bugs me about the four slow flashes.

superseagulls · Post by **superseagulls** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:03 pm

I purchased the:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... 2s-10a.htm

A while back and the unit has sat in the garage for a while. I had some projects to do this weekend, new tire, re-painted the exhaust with heat proof black paint, (it was browning near the exit from the engine), so figured it was a good opportunity to install the modulaor.

The one I purchased was the rapid strobe only (see link) and was worth EVERY penny of the $7.95 I paid.
The brake seems brighter, but it may have been the strobing effect intensifying the brightness!
An easy install, and probably easier than the other units as you only need to splice the positive supply to the light cluster.
Disconnecting the plug on the light cluster, and looking at the scooter wiring loom plug the pins out are as following with the engagement clip on top:
LEFT PIN - Ground
MIDDLE PIN - Rear Running Light +
RIGHT PIN - Brake +

I spliced the wire on the light cluster side of the wire, so there is no damage to the loom, if you change the light cluster.

All in all, a very good addition, and can't help to increase visibility, next mod to change to the PIAA front bulb!

Modern Buddy

Brake light modulator install

Brake light modulator install

Modulator

Shamless plug

Finally installed