Here's where it starts getting weird. Put her back together this morning, tested every time I made a move, pulled outside, all is working. Rode 20 minutes or so, no problems. After the first stop I noticed, or rather didn't notice, brake lights in the grill of car behind me. Thought maybe the wrong angle, about 40 minutes later in suburban traffic I conclude I have no brake lights. Made the rest of my stops (unlighted of course) and came home, ate, ETC. She sat for about 3 hours, turned off the lights and turned on the key. Brakes as modified at lever, pedal nothing. Try again, no brake lights anywhere.
DIode, grounds, bad idea, where would one start? We know the fuse is good. It is a 12A 200v diode that bench test correctly.