Top Brake light

[DrueM]

Hi All
Retired man Bailey Unicorn III Valencia Owner 2017
The high level brake light has stopped working. There is no power at the light although the light works when tested.
Can anyone tell me where the feed comes from for this light a its an LED and I am led to believe has a different voltage to the lower brake lights.
Any help would be much appreciated

Drue M

 

[IanB1485]

The wires come up between the gap in back wall of the caravan and the rear plastic/fibreglass outer rear panel. At the bottom is a multiway connector tucked inside . To access it you have to undo the screws securing the rear panel to the floor, and brace the outer panel open ( screwdriver handle) and trace the wires up to the high level brake light. good luck its not easy

 

[Woodentop]

Whilst they are a 'nice' thing do have, do remember that high level brake lights are not a legal requirement and are not checked as part of the MoT if fitted.

 

[otherclive]

Whilst they are a 'nice' thing do have, do remember that high level brake lights are not a legal requirement and are not checked as part of the MoT if fitted.

It’s on the OPs caravan, so no MOT concerns there. But useful to know wrt a car. 👍

 

[DrueM]

Thanks IanB1485. I really appreciate your advice and will have a go at it.
Also thanks to all others who responded and I take note that its not a legal requirement but like said nice to have and adds to your on road visibility.

 

[Beachball]

Hi DrueM Welcome to the forum sorry I cannot help but i think you are getting plenty of advice hope you are soon sorted then you can enjoy your caravan once again 🙏

 

[toad a caravan]

Welcome aboard

 

[Woodentop]

Thanks IanB1485. I really appreciate your advice and will have a go at it.
Also thanks to all others who responded and I take note that its not a legal requirement but like said nice to have and adds to your on road visibility.

Probably why Bailey stopped fitting the HLBL on Unicorn S4 models but they returned to it on the S5 and DeLuxe.

 

[DrueM]

Quick update.....
Found the multi way block no problem but can only trace enough wires for the rear Tail/Stop lights to each side. Wire colours match to each side but no Double connecter wires.... After much metering and head scratching I have come to realise I don't need a HLBL after all LOL.... But thanks to all who replied

 

[Mr Plodd]

Sorry to disappoint but.......
Whilst there is no legal requirement for them, HLBL's if fitted to a car, must work and its an MOT failure if it doesn't.
See here

 

[RogerL]

Sorry to disappoint but.......
Whilst there is no legal requirement for them, HLBL's if fitted to a car, must work and its an MOT failure if it doesn't.
See here

Since caravans aren't subject to MoT that can't apply.

 

[Kevin M]

Sorry to disappoint but.......
Whilst there is no legal requirement for them, HLBL's if fitted to a car, must work and its an MOT failure if it doesn't.
See here

The OP question relates to his caravan, why start quoting car mot regs?

 

[Gafferbill]

....incorrect information was posted at #3 about car MOTs even though it wasn't relevant to this thread.

 

[ProfJohnL]

All vehicles, including trailers are expected to comply with the construction and use regulations, even those vehicles exempt from MOT tests. This applies to all matters set out in the regulations, and if a trailer is non compliant and its used on the highway, if it is detected then the authorities may take the non compliance to prosecution.

As far as I know, trailers are not required to have a High Level Brake Light (HLBL) However if such a light fitting is visible, it should also be functional.

 

[otherclive]

I cannot see the formal link between your first paragraph and second paragraph. Do you have a specific reference please.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Basically the Con and Use Regs stipulate that all lights, if fitted, must work.
Con and Use Regs apply to cars and trailers.

 

[IanB1485]

Easy answer remove the offending high level brake light, when you that you may actually find where it's wires come from. I have a handy endoscope for looking between the back wall and the rear abs/fibreglass panel for things like witness marks of water dripping down the void,and wires and joints/hidden connectors etc.

 

[Dustydog]

My caravan has four brake lights. Two lower, two upper.
As far as I can ascertain caravans only need two working brake lights, n/s and o/s.

Does anyone know where in the RTA it says caravans must have more than two brake lights?
We still haven’t answered the OP🙀
This was discussed on Caravan talk four years ago and imo no finite answer was given🙉

 

[otherclive]

My caravan has four brake lights. Two lower, two upper.
As far as I can ascertain caravans only need two working brake lights, n/s and o/s.

Does anyone know where in the RTA it says caravans must have more than two brake lights?
We still haven’t answered the OP🙀
This was discussed on Caravan talk four years ago and imo no finite answer was given🙉

In the car testers HMG mot guide it does allow the tester discretion if the third brake light is not working. IE it could be disconnected. But as far as trailers are concerned I have found nothing in the Construction and Use Regulations about third or high level brake lights. Certainly two brake lights are required one each side. So my take on this question is that a third is not required which can be taken that if it’s not working it’s not illegal. The Regulations do give scope for uncertainty in areas. Look at MHs towing small cars using A frames. Lots of debate on Forums and still no UK definitive position, other than test it in Law.

The OP has two choices either fix it or live with it. My choice would be to fix it as being at high level it gives following drivers additional warning of braking. So since the OPs light works it’s a connection problem which I’m sure a AWS technician could readily fix if the OP isn’t able to find the feed cables.

Ian’s posts at #2 and #17 provide the necessary information to the OP.

 

[Mr Plodd]

The Con and Use Regs require that any lamp fitted, must work. That's for trailers as well as cars.

 

[otherclive]

The Con and Use Regs require that any lamp fitted, must work. That's for trailers as well as cars.

Why not send HMG a proposal to revise the MOT Testers guidance (for cars). As I did specifically say cars in my post.

 

[ProfJohnL]

The issue is not with the MOT, as presently Caravans are not subjected to an MOT test. But I agree with Plod.

If a TRAILER does not have a central high level brake light installed that is still fine - after all some trailers do not a central high level member that a brake light could be fitted to. But where (for whatever reason) a high level central brake is fitted, the UK Construction & Use regs expect the brake light to be functional.

Simply removing the bulb would not remove the requirement for it to be functional. If the high level brake light fitting (not just the bulb) were removed, then arguably as it's not a required light that might be OK, but I'm not aware of any cases that have hinged on such a point, but that does not mean there have been no cases.

Now we might wonder who might detect such a situation and be in a position to take action - Basically any police officer who sees such a case on the public highway, or VOSA officers involved in approved roadside inspection or at an inspection centre.