LED's and flashers, again

JAB · 03-11-2013, 11:29 AM

I know this is almost a weekly topic, but I am easily stumped. Added
LED turn signal lights to replace incans. Found and bought an electronic flasher that does not need a load to work. The rear turn signals work fine, the front signals sort of work, but instead of on-off-on-off they just change intensity, dim-bright-dim-bright. Before the change, the front lamps (LED) with the incan lamps on the rear, worked fine with a standard bimetal flasher. I am just not sure why the fronts stay partially lit. Any ideas?

Danjal · 03-11-2013, 11:38 AM

You need more load on the front. Is the no load flasher for LEDs or is it generic use?

JAB · 03-11-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danjal

You need more load on the front. Is the no load flasher for LEDs or is it generic use?

It is a generic flasher rumored on the innerwebs to work with LED's.
That would be an FL32/equivalent flasher.

Danjal · 03-11-2013, 03:54 PM

Take the connectors apart on one of the LEDs,hold an incandescent in there and see if they work right. Your new ones could have a load resistor built in.
If that doesn't work,put your old rear turn signals in line at the rear and see if that clears it with the new flasher. Normally I'd suspect back current,but these are LEDs...they shouldn't back flow.

anonny · 03-11-2013, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAB

It is a generic flasher rumored on the innerwebs to work with LED's.
That would be an FL32/equivalent flasher.

There's your problem, you need a no load led flasher.

JAB · 03-11-2013, 08:53 PM

Well, I guess I will have to try one of the LED specific ones.
It's just weird to me that one LED will cycle as it should and the other lamp kind of glows like it has to discharge. Oh well, off to the parts store. Thanks for the input.

lesman · 03-19-2013, 02:45 PM

Here's the deal:
I installed LED turn signals on my Quota. I bought a LED Flasher Relay (works great, installed in seconds plus an additional ground wire) for a Chevy off ebay. When I hit the flashers all the the flashers flashed at once. WTF? If your turn idicator light has 2 bulbs (left/right) then my Turn signals would have worked great,. Quota has one bulb for turn signals. Quick(not pernament) solution, removed turn indicator bulb.
Pernament solution is either add 4 resistors or add a LED bulb with an additional ground.
So boys and girls what have we learned today. LED flashers + LED flasher Relay, your flashers might not still function properly without additional "load". You can read a thousand posts about LED turn signals and never seem to get a total picture. I am at times electrical challenged. It's a great upgrade.

good luck,
Les

Bogfarth · 03-19-2013, 04:40 PM

www.superbrightleds.com has several versions (bare wire, bullets, plug-n-play connector) of an electronic flasher relay for about $9. My V-Star 650 needed a flasher after switching the front pair of 1157 bulbs for LED turn signals. I bought the bullet connector relay even though I knew it wouldn't fit; my harness takes blade connectors. When it showed up, I lopped off the bullets and crimped on 1/4" blade connectors. Plugged in the flasher and they work great!
.

JAB · 03-19-2013, 04:50 PM

So I got the LED specific flasher and installed it. The function is better, but I still get a little bit of glow on the front lights. If I add a incan test light to it, it will not glow and work as it should. Guessing there is a funky connection on a ground somewhere. If I try to add an indicator lamp, I find that the flasher is cycling all of the time. So my turn signal switch is acting as a selector and the flasher just blinks no matter what. Or it starts to work if it has the just the load of a single bulb on it.
Still not sure it's right, but it is bright enough to work and I will keep at it
till either it's perfect or no longer works.

holckster · 03-19-2013, 06:44 PM

Here is what I did to fix LED problem on a Yamaha TW200 when the LED flasher unit still failed to make things blink correctly.
http://tw200forum.com/forums/99574/ShowPost.aspx
You are getting a "backfeed" of power thru the indicator bulb that installing 2 directional IN4004 diodes and/or some circuit rewiring will cure.
Or as mentioned above remove turn indicator bulb.
Only had to do the fronts since it was the dash indicator light circuit that was allowing power to backfeed to the front turn signal lights.
Consult you specific bike wiring diagram.

Good Luck

Danjal · 03-20-2013, 04:04 PM

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

03-11-2013, 11:29 AM	#1
JAB ^OP Unsprung Weight Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Beautiful Monrovia Oddometer: 1,099	LED's and flashers, again I know this is almost a weekly topic, but I am easily stumped. Added LED turn signal lights to replace incans. Found and bought an electronic flasher that does not need a load to work. The rear turn signals work fine, the front signals sort of work, but instead of on-off-on-off they just change intensity, dim-bright-dim-bright. Before the change, the front lamps (LED) with the incan lamps on the rear, worked fine with a standard bimetal flasher. I am just not sure why the fronts stay partially lit. Any ideas? __________________ 1991 Honda XR628R 1978 Yamaha XT500 1965 Hodaka Ace 90

03-11-2013, 08:53 PM	#6
JAB ^OP Unsprung Weight Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Beautiful Monrovia Oddometer: 1,099	Well, I guess I will have to try one of the LED specific ones. It's just weird to me that one LED will cycle as it should and the other lamp kind of glows like it has to discharge. Oh well, off to the parts store. Thanks for the input. __________________ 1991 Honda XR628R 1978 Yamaha XT500 1965 Hodaka Ace 90

03-19-2013, 02:45 PM	#7
lesman Live easy, Brake Hard Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Oddometer: 400	Here's the deal: I installed LED turn signals on my Quota. I bought a LED Flasher Relay (works great, installed in seconds plus an additional ground wire) for a Chevy off ebay. When I hit the flashers all the the flashers flashed at once. WTF? If your turn idicator light has 2 bulbs (left/right) then my Turn signals would have worked great,. Quota has one bulb for turn signals. Quick(not pernament) solution, removed turn indicator bulb. Pernament solution is either add 4 resistors or add a LED bulb with an additional ground. So boys and girls what have we learned today. LED flashers + LED flasher Relay, your flashers might not still function properly without additional "load". You can read a thousand posts about LED turn signals and never seem to get a total picture. I am at times electrical challenged. It's a great upgrade. good luck, Les __________________ Obsessive compulsiveness always trumps good sense.

03-19-2013, 04:40 PM	#8
Bogfarth MOTGATT on a Yamahog Joined: Dec 2011 Location: The Northwet Oddometer: 76	www.superbrightleds.com has several versions (bare wire, bullets, plug-n-play connector) of an electronic flasher relay for about $9. My V-Star 650 needed a flasher after switching the front pair of 1157 bulbs for LED turn signals. I bought the bullet connector relay even though I knew it wouldn't fit; my harness takes blade connectors. When it showed up, I lopped off the bullets and crimped on 1/4" blade connectors. Plugged in the flasher and they work great! . __________________ Bogfarth Christopher Robin was sitting outside his door, putting on his Big Boots. As soon as he saw the Big Boots, Pooh knew that an Adventure was going to happen.

03-19-2013, 04:50 PM	#9
JAB ^OP Unsprung Weight Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Beautiful Monrovia Oddometer: 1,099	So I got the LED specific flasher and installed it. The function is better, but I still get a little bit of glow on the front lights. If I add a incan test light to it, it will not glow and work as it should. Guessing there is a funky connection on a ground somewhere. If I try to add an indicator lamp, I find that the flasher is cycling all of the time. So my turn signal switch is acting as a selector and the flasher just blinks no matter what. Or it starts to work if it has the just the load of a single bulb on it. Still not sure it's right, but it is bright enough to work and I will keep at it till either it's perfect or no longer works. __________________ 1991 Honda XR628R 1978 Yamaha XT500 1965 Hodaka Ace 90

03-11-2013, 11:38 AM	#2
Danjal Insert wit here. Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Location,Location Oddometer: 1,188	You need more load on the front. Is the no load flasher for LEDs or is it generic use?

03-11-2013, 03:54 PM	#4
Danjal Insert wit here. Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Location,Location Oddometer: 1,188	Take the connectors apart on one of the LEDs,hold an incandescent in there and see if they work right. Your new ones could have a load resistor built in. If that doesn't work,put your old rear turn signals in line at the rear and see if that clears it with the new flasher. Normally I'd suspect back current,but these are LEDs...they shouldn't back flow.

03-19-2013, 06:44 PM	#10
holckster dougholck Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Lodi, Ca Oddometer: 657	Here is what I did to fix LED problem on a Yamaha TW200 when the LED flasher unit still failed to make things blink correctly. http://tw200forum.com/forums/99574/ShowPost.aspx You are getting a "backfeed" of power thru the indicator bulb that installing 2 directional IN4004 diodes and/or some circuit rewiring will cure. Or as mentioned above remove turn indicator bulb. Only had to do the fronts since it was the dash indicator light circuit that was allowing power to backfeed to the front turn signal lights. Consult you specific bike wiring diagram. Good Luck __________________ Doug Holck Lodi, CA 3 Continents - 7 Countries - 50 States 04 BMW 1150GS Adventure 08 DR650 02 BMW K1200LTe 05 Yamaha TW200 BMW MOA 109760 AMA Charter Life Member 518333 International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians HDDC POSSE holckster screwed with this post 03-19-2013 at 06:50 PM

03-20-2013, 04:04 PM	#11
Danjal Insert wit here. Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Location,Location Oddometer: 1,188	http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

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