LED TAILIGHTS-- rewiring

[Porsche Enthusiast]

I recently purchased a clear set of the Depot Clear led tailights for my 97 Boxster.
I installed them with no issue, but I was terribly disappointed that they dont have any normal led running lights and the side markers arent lightable any more.

I also discovered that the outside banks of LEDS only light up when the fog lights are lit up, as the second bank plugs into that socket.

For me, this is an issue since there is a bad wire somewhere for my passenger fog tailight.
I think it makes more sense and would look cooler for both banks tolight up when braking.
I decided to rewire both led banks to the brakelight wiring, so they would both light up during braking. I used quick connect slicers
Unfortunately there seems to be an issue, if I step on brake once, the standard iside bank lights up, but if I press it again, the second bank comes on. If I keep pressing quickly, both light banks work, but if I stop pressing for 5 seconds, then only the standard inside bank led brake lights work.

I figure is has something to do with capicitors on the led circuit boards, Hasw anyone else tried to rewire the led tailights?
Thanks Eric

[Mark_T]

You know that the original wiring is set up that only the driver's side rear fog light is lit, right? (Unless you have a right hand drive car in which case it is the passenger side.)

[Porsche Enthusiast]

No I didn't know that, That explains it! Thought it was wiring HAH? then what purpose does the passenger side outside Fog tailight LED serve? If there is no way to turn on passenger fog light then it is a pointless endeavor. We have no fog here in san antonio, so any suggestions on rewiring will help if anyone has any experiences like mine rewiring so both leds go off when I brake. Like I said I tried, but the "Fog LEDS" only activate if I double tap and keep active the brake...

[Mark_T]

Yeah, those sneaky Germans hide that kind of info in the owner's manual.

[Porsche Enthusiast]

OK enough picking on the newb. Actually I read from owners manual front to back, thats how I knew they were fog lights, and how to turn them on in the first place, not normal for a car in the US. I must have missed the detail of single fog light.

So back to the LED/FOG LIGHT problem, has anyone else tried to cross wire so both LEDS act as brake lights, instead of the pointless brakelight/foglight combination. I am having an issue with the fog led not coming on intermittantly when I "pigtail" it to the brake light. Works only if I double tap the brake. Surely I am not the only one who was disappointed that the second set of FOG leds serve no purpose. Any elecrical engineers out there familiar with LEDS circuit boards?

And why only driver side foglight anyway? Kooky Germans... hah

[Mark_T]

I think it's so drivers behind you don't think it's brake lights.

Only in Europe though. Here in North America, other drivers will still think it's your brake light and assume that you have a burnt out bulb on the other side!

I just never bother using it.

[Porsche Enthusiast]

THAT EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT! HAHAHAH... I have since brought the whole tailight assembly in my house so I can bench test, using my battery charger. Oddly enough off the battery charger at 6 amps and 12 volts I get no light if direct, and only the smaller fog lamps will light if connected to the bulb looking connector, the larger LEDS wont go on just flash on go off. Took back out to car, anyone know what amperage the brakelights run at?

[madmods]

>>> post deleted <<<
Reason: just re-read your original post to find out I was wrong. Apologies for the mess!

[Jaxonalden]

In Europe and other countries adhering to ECE Regulation 48, vehicles must be equipped with one or two bright red "rear fog lamps" (or "fog tail lamps"), which serve as high-intensity rear position lamps to be energized by the driver in conditions of poor visibility to enhance vehicle conspicuity from the rear. This is to maximize the sight line of following drivers to the rear fog lamp. While providing some safeguard against rear fog lamps being confused with stop lamps, ECE R48 requires a separation of at least 10 cm between the closest illuminated edges of any stop lamp and any rear fog lamp.

I personally love the lamps when used correctly because you can maintain a safe following distance. Trying to follow a car in the fog with only rear running lights, you have to drive closer to that vehicle to keep the lights in sight, shorting your reaction time.