Test Your Knowledge - 1950 B2B Tail Light Curiosity

[FlashBuddy]

Do you ever go to bed thinking of some troubling issue and wake up with an "aha!" moment? I certainly do. I finally got a new 1154 bulb socket mounted into the tail light can and wired up. I had Max (my son) stomp the brake pedal with my fingers crossed; it works! I had Max pull the light switch on the dash; it works! Finally, I had Max leave the lights on and then stomp the brake; It works - sorta.

 

The difference is very subtle and that troubled me. Can you figure it out? Why is the light not significantly brighter when the brake is applied? 

 

I woke up this morning with the answer. No, I'm not going to tell you but rather give you some time to figure it out on your own.

[Merle Coggins]

I would suspect that you got the tail light and brake light wires reversed.

[FlashBuddy]

Yes! We have a winner. The replacement socket was wired with red and white while the truck has black and red. I had connected red to red. Seemed like the right thing to do but obviously it's backasswards. 

[lonejacklarry]

My guess is that you are the only man in the free world that has ever done that.  Maybe other than Merle whom had a quick answer.

[FlashBuddy]

LOL - Got a message from another pilothouse owner who did the exact same thing. He initially thought the brake light switch on the master cylinder was at fault. Its on to the non working speedo next. Hope I don't hook that up backwards!