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rear numberplate lights

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 6:58 pm
by parisian62
Hi everyone

What is the correct setup with rear numberplate lights? There is a black wire going directly to the bulb holder. What is this yellow wire for? Earth? Positive? Negative? It looks like a backyard job as the wire is stuffed into between the bulb holder and the bulb and then is 'connected' to the self tapper olding the nlight lense in place. Other side is the same but the wire is red.

Also if you look carefully in the pics there is a very thin brass? piece of metal folded over behind the mountaing plate - ite just near the 'L' in the pic. What is that for?

Image

Image

One Benny's EK Wagon Paul has a wire drilled through the mounting plate but the pics don't show where it goes? http://www.fbekholden.com/forum/viewtop ... &start=165

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Stewart

Re: rear numberplate lights

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 7:43 pm
by Trev
Looks like the yellow wire is for the earth because of the rubber mounting.
The folded piece of metal might have been to get an earth going without the wire.
Just thoughts.

Re: rear numberplate lights

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:45 am
by Harv
Stu,

These are sedan (very similar to wagon in intent, and identical in wiring):
Image
Thick blacklead is 12V+ that goes into the back of the bulb. Small black lead is ground, attaches to a thin metal ring that clamps under the bulb holder assembly.

The assemblies are (relatively) delicate - work well, but not made for repeated pulling apart and can be killed by rust and vibration. The yellow wire in your one looks like an add-on after the original metal ring contact broke, perhaps a rego inspection fix-up.

Cheers,
Harv.

Re: rear numberplate lights

Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:31 am
by parisian62
Many thanks Trev and Andrew....I'll add an earth in similar to what Paul has done on Bennys EK wagon.

I'm a shocker at wiring and unless I can follow something that's already there I don't have much of a clue... :roll: :oops:

Stewart

Re: rear numberplate lights

Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:48 pm
by Cal
Sorry for the dumb question :oops: :oops: . Withe the sedan ones, how do you seperate the lens from the socket (like in Harv's photo) ? I broke that little earthing tab and need to pull it apart to fix.

Re: rear numberplate lights

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:49 am
by Harv
G'day Cal,

Once you've got the screw out of the bumper and the assembly off the car:
a) hold the lens and socket and pull the globe holder off by wobbling it gently side to side. It has spring contacts that hold it into the socket.
b) Pick out the brass ring from the socket with a fine pointed tool. It's just sitting there.
c) Pull the lense off the socket, by pulling it and rotating side to side. It is a snug fit, as the rubber seal is between the lense and socket. Take care not to snap off the screw lug. Be prepared to swear as your 50 year old lense disintegrates.

Cheers,
Harv.

Re: rear numberplate lights

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:35 am
by Cal
Thanks Harv :thumbsup: .

Knowing my luck, it'll all fall to pieces when I try take it apart :oops: :lol: