I tried to fix $15 taillight... I can!

[DreamV4]

It would probably take me 3 hours to fix $15 taillight, burnt resistors, I have them!!! I gave up and bought new one... Shame on me... Quitter!
I know, Fire medic would fix it... Maybe I will!!!
this is new one from ebay:

Motorcycle Cat Eye Custom Led Taillight Plate Holder for Choppers clear lens | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Motorcycle Cat Eye Custom Led Taillight Plate Holder for Choppers clear lens at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[totalcomfort]

Details and how did it work out? I like that, any wiring problems?

 

[DreamV4]

View attachment 79795 I need to draw diagram.

 

[02GF74]

The diagram you have drawn must be wrong.
It looks like the 4 leds arranged in a triangle to represent arrows pointing left and right at each side are the turn signals. They have to have separate feeds so cannot connect together to the 58 ohm resistor.

Cost of components about $5, time to remove and solder about 1 hour.

Do you have a desoldering pump tool, it'll make the job much easier and quicker.



I see there are heated desoldering pumps (never new they existed) for about 2x price of the above so the task requires one hand instead of two. I may actually buy one.

 

[DreamV4]

This is a "cat eyes" tail light and has 2 separate lights (see Ebay link)

There are 4 circuits and 3 types of components (LED, resistor, diode):

1.Yellow wire (turn signal, 8 LEDs)
2.Red wire (brake, 6 LEDs)
3.White wire (tag, 3 LEDs)
4.white wire (run, brake LEDs, half bright)

Circuits work as follow:

1. and 2. Yellow and red are identical: one resistor and 2 chains of LEDs
White "tag" circuit has resistor, 3 LEDs and a diode, which has no purpose(?) and can be removed (Chinese electronic guy was probably drunk, engineering the tail light)
White "run" circuit uses same 6 "brake LEDs" half power because it has 2 resistors (why 2?), it also has a diode, which is not needed (?) and can be removed.
Diagnosing and repairing of $15 tail light is more like entertainment.
So far I found 2 bad resistors and 2 bad LEDs. A few resistors work but look burnt.
After my "high level" diagnosing 3 more LEDs stopped working.
Improved diagram:

 

[02GF74]

No.
If you want the indicators to flash separately, I cannot see how that can be done without a separate wire to each circuit, else they act as hazard lights.

An example below showing the minimum wires required.

 

[DreamV4]

4 good diods out of 17.

 

[DreamV4]

No.
If you want the indicators to flash separately, I cannot see how that can be done without a separate wire to each circuit, else they act as hazard lights.

An example below showing the minimum wires required.
View attachment 79800

My old taillight has separate harness for each "eye". Check link to new identical taillight from ebay (post 1)
BTW, I used tallight on your picture for another bike, brake light broke after 5 min. or so. I posted testing video, seller refunded money. I still used the tail light but bought and installed additional light just for brake.