New LED style CMHSL - strobing issue

[stevecon]

I recently installed a "NJSBYL LED CHMSL" (Amazon ASIN: B0C5R3SRKB) a.k.a. center high mounted stop light or 3rd brake light for my 2021 1500 RAM Laramie. My 1500 has factory LED lighting - except for the factory CHMSL which used (1) incandescent bulb for brakes and (2) incandescent bulbs for bed illumination.

I connected the new CHMSL and a "United Pacific Brake Attention Module 90655" (Amazon ASIN: B007I6P26Q) as per the included wiring instructions. With the truck off, I pressed the brake pedal repeatedly until I had turned the brake light timing adjustment screws to flash only the CHMSL for 1 second and then remain on solid. I secured all the parts on / in the truck.

A short time later, I was backing into a parking spot in front of a store with a large glass window. It revealed that my CHMSL was not working the way I had installed it. When I got home I had someone step on the brake pedal with the truck idling and I saw that the CHMSL was not flashing - but appeared to be on solid; albeit not quite full brilliance. With the truck off, the CHMSL worked as I had set it up. I have temporarily removed the flasher module but would like to install so it works as desired.

Has anyone else had this issue - how did you correct it? TIA!!

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

https://a.co/d/0G7LC59

I’ve got this one and it works fine ( I also have factory led lighting)

 

[DeanM2]

I recently installed a "NJSBYL LED CHMSL" (Amazon ASIN: B0C5R3SRKB) a.k.a. center high mounted stop light or 3rd brake light for my 2021 1500 RAM Laramie. My 1500 has factory LED lighting - except for the factory CHMSL which used (1) incandescent bulb for brakes and (2) incandescent bulbs for bed illumination.

I connected the new CHMSL and a "United Pacific Brake Attention Module 90655" (Amazon ASIN: B007I6P26Q) as per the included wiring instructions. With the truck off, I pressed the brake pedal repeatedly until I had turned the brake light timing adjustment screws to flash only the CHMSL for 1 second and then remain on solid. I secured all the parts on / in the truck.

A short time later, I was backing into a parking spot in front of a store with a large glass window. It revealed that my CHMSL was not working the way I had installed it. When I got home I had someone step on the brake pedal with the truck idling and I saw that the CHMSL was not flashing - but appeared to be on solid; albeit not quite full brilliance. With the truck off, the CHMSL worked as I had set it up. I have temporarily removed the flasher module but would like to install so it works as desired.

Has anyone else had this issue - how did you correct it? TIA!!

From my reading of the Amazon Comments for this item, you need to adjust it while the truck is running, not when it is turned off.

 

[stevecon]

https://a.co/d/0G7LC59

I’ve got this one and it works fine ( I also have factory led lighting)

Yours looks suspiciously identical to mine - but from another supplier / maker. I've got another module to try to see if it works any better..

 

[stevecon]

From my reading of the Amazon Comments for this item, you need to adjust it while the truck is running, not when it is turned off.

I believe I installed it while the truck was running... and when I checked it out after seeing it not work, I tried to make adjustments while the truck was running. Neither of the adjustment potentiometers functioned as I expected. I did order a new UP90655 flasher module to try out. Hopefully, the new one will work better than the one I installed earlier. I'll post my results either way. Thanks

 

[scottmoyer]

Not really a helpful question, but why do so many people want the CHMSL to flash? That's actually illegal and while the thought is that it may cause someone to pay attention to braking, it's also an annoyance to those that do pay attention.

According to the original law:
"Each passenger car manufactured on and after September 1, 1985, must be equipped with a CHMSL that conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. Further, any aftermarket CHMSL that is intended to replace the original CHMSL must also meet the requirements of the standard. One of the requirements is that the CHMSL be steady burning when the brake pedal is applied, that is to say, that all light sources must illuminate simultaneously when the brake pedal is applied, and be extinguished simultaneously when the brake pedal is released. The purpose of this is to ensure that the CHMSL is instantly recognized as part of the stop lamp system, so that the driver following can apply the brakes without hesitation or take evasive action if needed. "

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

Not really a helpful question, but why do so many people want the CHMSL to flash? That's actually illegal and while the thought is that it may cause someone to pay attention to braking, it's also an annoyance to those that do pay attention.

According to the original law:
"Each passenger car manufactured on and after September 1, 1985, must be equipped with a CHMSL that conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. Further, any aftermarket CHMSL that is intended to replace the original CHMSL must also meet the requirements of the standard. One of the requirements is that the CHMSL be steady burning when the brake pedal is applied, that is to say, that all light sources must illuminate simultaneously when the brake pedal is applied, and be extinguished simultaneously when the brake pedal is released. The purpose of this is to ensure that the CHMSL is instantly recognized as part of the stop lamp system, so that the driver following can apply the brakes without hesitation or take evasive action if needed. "

A lot of semis and other commercial vehicles use strobing lights when brakes are applied or in park. It’s all personal preference at this point bud

 

[Shives]

folks tazer dt has this feature built-in. like 249.99 and you get 35 more features

 

[scottmoyer]

A lot of semis and other commercial vehicles use strobing lights when brakes are applied or in park. It’s all personal preference at this point bud

That doesn't mean it's right, or legal.

 

[1923bob]

folks tazer dt has this feature built-in. like 249.99 and you get 35 more features

And with Tazer you can set fast or slow and the number of times it flashes.

 

[stevecon]

Not really a helpful question, but why do so many people want the CHMSL to flash? That's actually illegal and while the thought is that it may cause someone to pay attention to braking, it's also an annoyance to those that do pay attention.

According to the original law:
"Each passenger car manufactured on and after September 1, 1985, must be equipped with a CHMSL that conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. Further, any aftermarket CHMSL that is intended to replace the original CHMSL must also meet the requirements of the standard. One of the requirements is that the CHMSL be steady burning when the brake pedal is applied, that is to say, that all light sources must illuminate simultaneously when the brake pedal is applied, and be extinguished simultaneously when the brake pedal is released. The purpose of this is to ensure that the CHMSL is instantly recognized as part of the stop lamp system, so that the driver following can apply the brakes without hesitation or take evasive action if needed. "

I think that if more people paid attention while driving, the interest in them would wane. We've all seen people texting, shaving, applying up make up, etc. all while driving on interstate highways and town roads. I think when manufacturers started adding CHMSL (after the government tested them out on their fleet of vehicles and found rear-end accidents declined) people noticed. So now nearly forty years later; everyone is used to seeing them and they don't stand out anymore. I don't think a 1 second (or so) pulsing CHMSL is obnoxious (but if I was told ALL lamps or none, I'd make them all pulse - to comply with any law requiring them to all work together). Hell, if my brake lights annoy someone behind me and they move out of the lane it's a -lot less- likely that they'll rear-end me. Mission accomplished. MA State Police vehicles strobe all 3 brake lights for about 1 second and I'm sure they have a good reason for it. Legality is based on location.

 

[1923bob]

I think that if more people paid attention while driving, the interest in them would wane. We've all seen people texting, shaving, applying up make up, etc. all while driving on interstate highways and town roads. I think when manufacturers started adding CHMSL (after the government tested them out on their fleet of vehicles and found rear-end accidents declined) people noticed. So now nearly forty years later; everyone is used to seeing them and they don't stand out anymore. I don't think a 1 second (or so) pulsing CHMSL is obnoxious (but if I was told ALL lamps or none, I'd make them all pulse - to comply with any law requiring them to all work together). Hell, if my brake lights annoy someone behind me and they move out of the lane it's a -lot less- likely that they'll rear-end me. Mission accomplished. MA State Police vehicles strobe all 3 brake lights for about 1 second and I'm sure they have a good reason for it. Legality is based on location.

Well said Steve.

 

[scottmoyer]

Still illegal in almost every state. Like the fact that the law also states that no more than 4 forward facing lights are permitted on the front of a vehicle. That's why fog lights go off when high beams are on. But, that doesn't seem to stop so many manufacturers from putting so many white lights on the front of new cars. I don't understand why the laws are being ignored and even the manufacturers are ignoring the law.

The purpose of the CHMSL was so that braking could be seen by cars 2 or more cars back in line. Too many rear end accidents were occurring because the 2nd car back didn't know that the car in front of them wasn't braking early enough, and it provided them with advanced warning of braking in front of them. The CHMSL was to be visible thru the back window of the car in front of them.

 

[stevecon]

I'm not interested in arguing the merits of these lights... but I can say that I've had local and state police behind me plenty of times in MA, NH and ME and I've never once been stopped, cited or even warned. If and when that happens, I'll comply with any law they tell me I'm violating. In the meantime, I just want the brake light to work as advertised.

 

[Shives]

Fellow Mass-hole here.. and best buddy is a SP.. SO that being said... If you were to act like a fire/police vehicle you would get in trouble.. The fact one light is flashing up top of the cab, they wont pull you over for it. He's been behind me, he knows about it.. asked for his vehicle as well... the law does state any modification to vehicle main lighting is illegal.. chmsl can be argued its an optional light... Its a bad gray area. I personally love having this working.. It helps to be seen around here. And I agree... If I was told to make that stop... I could make that happen by my steering wheel controls in about 30 seconds.

 

[Shives]

And with Tazer you can set fast or slow and the number of times it flashes.

YES YOU ARE CORRECT! TAZER HAS SO MANY USEFUL FEATURES MANY FORGET ABOUT. SADLY SOMETIMES HOW THEY DESCRIBE THEM ON THE DASH LEAVES YOU WONDERING.

 

[1923bob]

I was afraid to jump in here and give my opinion, but what the heck mine flashes a couple times real quick when I first step on the break and I love it give them a little warning and hopefully they don't run into the back of my truck and we're in California where they have the dumbest regulations anyway. Thank You Tazer !

 

[stevecon]

I was afraid to jump in here and give my opinion, but what the heck mine flashes a couple times real quick when I first step on the break and I love it give them a little warning and hopefully they don't run into the back of my truck and we're in California where they have the dumbest regulations anyway. Thank You Tazer !

That's -exactly- the type of output I'm looking to get from my CHMSL as well. A rapid flash or strobe effect for just 1 second - then on solid until I stop braking. Strictly for a "Heads up! I'm braking!" alert.

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

That's -exactly- the type of output I'm looking to get from my CHMSL as well. A rapid flash or strobe effect for just 1 second - then on solid until I stop braking. Strictly for a "Heads up! I'm braking!" alert.

That’s how mine works

 

[stevecon]

I have that setup in my 2005 Jeep Liberty that is used primarily for plowing snow from my driveway and for runs to the transfer station. I just ordered a couple of 6 Ohm / 50 watt resistors to put in parallel with the cargo and brake light leads (I should have done that to start).