Speedtrip Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Hi all,I'm currently looking for a high(er) level brake light for road use. There's lots of different options out there but I'm wondering if anyone has tried Caterham's race brake light:https://caterhamparts.co.uk/rear-lights/5677-race-brake-light-unit-assy.htmlAt the moment this is my preferred solution but I'm just a little concerned about the legality and aesthetics of the install. Ideally I would like to fit a light around the "X" in the FIA roll bar. Any thoughts and a photo of fitted example that would be greatly appreciated.Thanks, Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuB Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Hi Andy,I fitted one a few years ago using a P'Clip fixed around the centre of the FIA bar, although I only had a single diagonal. Nice and bright and in the perfect position, unfortunately I don't have any pictures. The other option, which i have also done on another car, is an LED strip light from Car Builder Solutions. I trimmed off the plastic lugs with a Stanley knife and you can glue, cable tie or velcro it to the underside of the top of the roll bar. Again it's a good position and can still be seen from under a half hood.Would recommend buying the wiring loom from Caterham (if they have stock) as it makes it a very easy job.Good luck.StuEdited to add picture of the second optionhttp://www.dropbox.com/s/z0b0hjyowas2mue/007%20%282%29.JPG?dl=0and I found couple of option 1http://photos.app.goo.gl/mwQynJy8pCJZdLqB3http://photos.app.goo.gl/X9T8jo8PZ5g1rWlm1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 48LED from Car Builder Solutions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted November 14, 2017 Member Share Posted November 14, 2017 What Stu says, and there's a lot on related options in the archives including a Guide, but unfortunately it's scattered across multiple threads.Added lights of this sort probably won't breach regulations for use on public roads, and are very unlikely to cause a problem at MoT inspections.JonathanPS: We finally cracked how to show a Dropbox image inline.http://www.dropbox.com/s/z0b0hjyowas2mue/007%20%282%29.JPG?raw=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Paul Richards Posted November 14, 2017 Area Representative Share Posted November 14, 2017 If you fit race light on the cross it will seriously interfere with rear vision. Go with 48 LED strip under top of roll bar and use the high level brake light loom from Caterham. Makes the installation very easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedtrip Posted November 15, 2017 Author Share Posted November 15, 2017 Many thanks for the response.I have considered fitting a strip-light to the top rail but as I haven't yet got a half hood. Ideally I'd still like to keep the option to use the full hood in the future, so would prefer to fit something lower.One of the suggested options looks good were a round race light has been installed behind the "X". I'll give this some more thought. I've seen it said that LED race light need an inline resistor. Can anyone suggest a suitable example and where it could be obtained - I'm totally inept!I quite like the look of the below which shouldn't be overly big and obscure too much if installed vertically. This one can be set to flash, so would a resistor still be required if used as a brake light?https://caterhamparts.co.uk/rear-lights/5476-rain-light-race.htmlThanks again,Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrp Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 How I mounted mineMrp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Mine is bonded with the same stuff used to glue the front wings on - Tigerseal or Sikaflex. I held it in place with a couple of cable ties while the adhesive cured meaning light at least is neatly flush against the roll bar. What annoys me more is the wire - it is currently is taped under the bar and covered with black insulation tape and looks a bit like a bodge. Id rather have it routed through the bar, but that would required drilling holes and feeding the wire through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted November 15, 2017 Leadership Team Share Posted November 15, 2017 Tom's certainly looks much tidier bonded in place with Sikaflex instead of using P-Clips .... which are the work of the devil, hideous things and should be reserved for under-bonnet use. As long as the rollbar is black the tape covering the cable is hardly noticeable.Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edzup Ezzer Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Tom,You'll have everybody tut-tutting if you do as you suggest and drill a hole in the bar and thread the wire through. Frankly, I doubt you'd ever regret doing it that way as the bar (I'm assuming it's the FIA type with diagonals) is probably the strongest part of the car and if ever (dread the thought) it was called into 'service' would survive better than the chassis it's bolted to, but that's just my view. There is an alternative however, which is to bond the cable to the bar with a bead of Sikaflex or whatever. Done carefully this can look ok. Ezzer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedtrip Posted November 15, 2017 Author Share Posted November 15, 2017 I'd been wondering about drilling the bar to hide the cable. I too doubt very much it would compromise the bars effectiveness.Does anyone know if the diagonals are simply butt welded to the main frame ie so there's no hole to thread through?Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Ran my cable under the rear brace bars of the roll bar under a strip of black insulating tape. Can't see it. Been there for many years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick T Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Andy, I did fit a round FIA light to the center of the X bar after shamelessly plagiarising an R500 online posting on how to do it. However being OCD, I did change the fitting arrangement slightly. Happy to send you a photo if you would like. The CC wiring part did help massively and the wires are still there. However being small and round it does not affect (too badly) rear vision. I like it because you can still use a SBFS hood. Cheers Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedtrip Posted November 22, 2017 Author Share Posted November 22, 2017 Nick,A photo or two would be fantastic if you could.cheersAndy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike150 Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Got one of the Hella LED brake lights from car builder solutions after reading this thread. Stuck on with some 3M tape and plugged into the spare Caterham plugs below the fuel filler. Seems a good job, hopefully prevent getting rear ended someday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felixgogo Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 I did the same as Mike, my car is pre 06, so doesn't have the spare plugs, so I got the Caterham sub loom. The LED is the Hella unit, from CBS, stuck on with Velcro, and the grey plastic back plate of the unit 'painted' with permanent marker pen in black.Wire feeds along the underside of one of the rear diagonal struts into the boot, stuck on with black insulating tape. Been there over 7 years now, still looks spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L777JDP Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Hello,Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I'm after fitting a high level brake light. I noticed Mike150 mentions spare plugs to plug it into below the fuel filler cap. Does anyone know what years or models would have these? I've got a 2013 Roadsport SV.Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L777JDP Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Hello,Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I'm after fitting a high level brake light. I noticed Mike150 mentions spare plugs to plug it into below the fuel filler cap. Does anyone know what years or models would have these? I've got a 2013 Roadsport SV.Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted April 9, 2019 Member Share Posted April 9, 2019 I think that you might have.Can you find anything in the boot, and if so what are the colours of the wires? (IIRC some Sevens have accessory power wires.)Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 You will certainly have the wires. Might be in boot on offside. Might be under boot floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Any thought how to tastefully hide the wiring on a yellow painted roll bar? I don't really want to put black insulation tape underneath it. I could use yellow tape I suppose. Has anyone ever drilled a small hole and succesfuly manage to thread the wiring through into the boo this way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David aka Blue7 Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 You should definitely have a brake light spur on a 2013 car, it should be off side on other side of the wheel arch and it is a spade connector, can't be sure but male I think. Just use a circuit tester to verify the circuit.Just to throw another suggestion into the discussion, I fitted a rectangular rain-light, similar to (but more reliable) the Caterham one to supplement the carp standard brake / side lights. I now have JAL led rear lights with clear lenses and they are so bright that a H/L brake light is really no longer necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Don't drill the roll bar. Go for yellow insulating tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim S Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Picking up TomB's suggestion of drilling a hole to thread the cable through.....when fitting a high level brake light for me my auto electrician absolutely refused to drill any holes in the roll bar for fear of damaging it's integrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazio Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Tom, dont drill the roll bar, makes it worthless and destroys the integrity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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