Integrated vs Non-integrated Tail Lights
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 11:21 am
As I’ve been researching and designing the electrical system for my roadster I’ve come across a few things. One of which is wheather or not to have integrated tail lights? What are integrated tail lights you ask...well. An integrated tail is when the brake and turn signal share lights. This is usually denoted by red lenses only and when the directional signal is on (let say the right side for example) and the brakes are on; the brake light on that side (the right side here) will flash as the turn signal. As for the non-integrated there is an independent set of turn indicators, often they are amber in color. Here is the Painless Wiring definition:
In this group of instructions, you will see the term “integrated turn/brake lights.†Most vehicles have integrated lights. This terminology refers to turn signals that also function as brake lights. You can easily tell if your vehicle has integrated turn/brake signals or separate turn/brake lights by looking at the lamp socket(s) on the rear of the vehicle. Only looking at the passenger or the driver side, how many sockets going into red lenses
do you see?
Integrated turn brake signal vehicles will usually have 1 socket per side with a dual filament bulb (brighter filament for turn/brake, dimmer filament for tail lights). You can also have vehicles that have integrated lights but also have multiple sockets and lenses.
Separate turn brake signal vehicles will usually have 2 or 3 sockets: 1 socket with dual filaments (brighter filament for brake, dimmer for tail) and 1 socket with a single filament for the turn signal. Remember to count the bulb filaments or the contacts on the bottom of the bulb, not the wires going to them, as your sockets may or may not have ground wires.
I’m just curious what people here think about one set vs the other on our little cars. I’m on the fence but am leaning towards the integrated set up. Not really hard to build I. Either instance but once you go one way it can be a pain to go back to the other. Looking forward to all y’alls thoughts.
Cheers
Matthew
In this group of instructions, you will see the term “integrated turn/brake lights.†Most vehicles have integrated lights. This terminology refers to turn signals that also function as brake lights. You can easily tell if your vehicle has integrated turn/brake signals or separate turn/brake lights by looking at the lamp socket(s) on the rear of the vehicle. Only looking at the passenger or the driver side, how many sockets going into red lenses
do you see?
Integrated turn brake signal vehicles will usually have 1 socket per side with a dual filament bulb (brighter filament for turn/brake, dimmer filament for tail lights). You can also have vehicles that have integrated lights but also have multiple sockets and lenses.
Separate turn brake signal vehicles will usually have 2 or 3 sockets: 1 socket with dual filaments (brighter filament for brake, dimmer for tail) and 1 socket with a single filament for the turn signal. Remember to count the bulb filaments or the contacts on the bottom of the bulb, not the wires going to them, as your sockets may or may not have ground wires.
I’m just curious what people here think about one set vs the other on our little cars. I’m on the fence but am leaning towards the integrated set up. Not really hard to build I. Either instance but once you go one way it can be a pain to go back to the other. Looking forward to all y’alls thoughts.
Cheers
Matthew
