How Do You access the wiring for the license plate light?

[Biker Bill]

I need to get access to the wiring for the license plate light to wire in a set of Vololights.

Will someone please give me some tips on how to get at the wiring.  It doesn't appear to be easily accessible to me.

Thanks for any help.

[BF]

Do you need access to the brake light wiring?  If so, you'll need to access the wires at the tail light.  

There is a hole in the rear fender where the tab from the tag/turns assembly goes into the rear fender.  You'll have to unbolt that assembly from the rear fender.  You can run your wires through there up inside the fender to the tail light to access brake light wires.   You can splice into the wiring there.  

http://www.hondadirectline.com/OEMpartfinder.htm#/Honda/GL1500C_A_(97)_MOTORCYCLE,_USA,_VIN%23_1HFSC340-VA000001/REAR_FENDER_+_GRAB_RAIL/GL1500C-97-A/2Y14MZ0VMZ04F2600AE

http://www.hondadirectline.com/OEMpartfinder.htm#/Honda/GL1500C_A_(97)_MOTORCYCLE,_USA,_VIN%23_1HFSC340-VA000001/TAILLIGHT/GL1500C-97-A/2Y14MZ0VMZ04F2800AD

If you don't have one already, get a manual.  

Honestly, for me, while doing any wiring on the rear of the bike, it was way easier just to unplug and remove the entire rear section of the rear fender and put it up on the work bench/table to get access to what I needed....however, it can be done easily enough on the bike.  

My tag frame is from Custom Dynamics...it's a run/brake led (red leds with clear lenses) on the upper part and on the lower part of the frame.  Very bright.  That's how I  wired mine.  

The red reflectors on there the same way....they're not just reflectors...they'er running light leds also.  

[Biker Bill]

No, I do not need to access the brake light wiring, only the license plate light wiring.  The lights that I am considering have a mechanism that senses deceleration and automatically begins a warning flash sequence before you hit the brakes (ie: downshifting or throttling down suddenly.

How do I access just the license plate wiring.  Hopefully it is simpler than the brake light wiring.  The company that makes these Vololights says you only need to access the license plate light wires.

Thanks for your feedback.

[BF]

The bulb (#12) that illuminates the license plate goes into the bulb socket (#7).  Note the wires that come out of the back of that socket. 

The wires that you want to get at are under the chrome plastic cover (#16). 

http://www.hondadirectline.com/OEMpartfinder.htm#/Honda/GL1500C_A_(97)_MOTORCYCLE,_USA,_VIN%23_1HFSC340-VA000001/TAILLIGHT/GL1500C-97-A/2Y14MZ0VMZ04F2800AD

[BobB]

I feel your pain, been there.  I replaced the license plate bulb with an LED bulb.  You have to remove the entire chrome housing from the fender, two nuts under the fender, to get access to the bulb.  It's easier if you remove the rear section of the fender and do it on a bench.  Careful, there are a lot of wires in a small space.

[Biker Bill]

Okay, that info helps from both Bob and BF. 

Too bad someone has not designed an electrical fitting with a bulb base and wires in place of the glass bulb.  The I could just insert it like a new bulb but have wires to connect to the vololights. 

Usually when I think of something, someone else has already designed it.  Ever heard of such an adapter?

[RonW]

Too bad someone has not designed an electrical fitting with a bulb base and wires in place of the glass bulb.  The I could just insert it like a new bulb but have wires to connect to the vololights. 

Won't happen since that item is a generic part for honda shadows.

[Icelander]

You mean like this?

Not sure if this is the right socket but there look to be other kinds by the same seller.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/130744129367?lpid=82&chn=ps

[cogsman]

I've got this taken apart now as my license plate light was burned out. I'm thinking of replacing it with an LED. Does anyone know if that's possible, and if so, what size/type LED needs to be used?