Indicator Flasher Relay + LED

[chronyx]

Humph. I replaced all my warning lights on the dash with LED's today.

(Get one of these little packs, very useful! All the colours you need and enough of them
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=250141304384)

Anyway. They all work, very well too, excpet that the indicator flasher relay seems to swap the current flow direction to the dashboard bulb depending on what way you indicate!!!

So with a normal bulb, no problem, but with the LED it only blinks when you indicate left (Or right depending what way round )

Yes I found this out once the screen, dash and upper cowling were back together.

I guess a 12v flasher relay is a pretty generic item apart from the shape so anyone know where you can get one that just flashes without fooking about with current flow?! Also there were a couple of wires cut on it but all the bulbs work and always have done so....

I assume the fast-paced world of blinky wee lights has moved on in this area of course.

[Jochen]

Mayb you should connect an other one but opposite.
One for the left and one for the right?!?! This way your passenger also know which way you want to turn

[chronyx]

Looks like I'll have to, just means hacking the dash about

[Xander]

I have a couple of bridging flasher relays that i dont need. I could shoot them your way if you want em...

[chronyx]

I have a couple of bridging flasher relays that i dont need. I could shoot them your way if you want em...

What's one of those then? What type does the AT come with?

If you don't mind though that would be handy! Will keep me out of mischief having a tinker with them anyway...

[Xander]

Sorry my bad.. i got distracted... it is a resistor not a relay... basically it makes the flasher unit think that the correct voltage is being used and then the flasher unit flashes.. (i had to install em when i changed over to led turn signals... if you want em pm me your addy and ill go dig em out.. (that could take a couple of days though)

[BobA]

I don't think that will work!

I haven't got an AT wiring diagram to hand, so can't be sure at the moment how the indicator idiot light is wired.

The dummy load resistors Xander mentioned are for "bodging" (s'cuse my french) an LED installation for your turn signals. Basically, your existing indicator bulbs draw 2 x 21watts, and this current makes the bi-metallic flasher unit heat up, making and breaking a circuit so that the two bulbs (and idiot light) flash.
When you replace your turn signals with LED's, the problem is LED's do not draw enough current for the original flasher unit to work.
There are two ways to rectify this.
1. Is to replace the old mechanical flasher unit with an electronic one, which is the best option, and is literally plug&play.
2. Which is the least preferred option (by me) is to fit dummy loads (resistors) which create a current draw for the LED's and fool the original flasher unit into thinking they're bulbs. This option defeats one advantage of using LED's, which is to save power! (that you can potentially use elsewhere maybe)

I think your problem with fitting an LED idiot light for the indicators is due to the way the idiot light is originally wired into the loom, and indicator circuit. Basiaclly, an LED is a diode, and current will only flow in one direction (and make it light) so I'm guessing if you have a wiring diagram you will see where the problem is.

I actually slipped a blue wedge LED into my hi-beam idiot light ages back, and it's amazing how much better they are isn'y it??!!!

I also put one of the 2 x 33 LED tail lamps in a few weeks ago, (A) to hopefully eliminate blown bulbs and (B) for the minimal powersaving benefits.

It should be easy to rectify this problem, and when I can get my Haynes manual I'll have a look to see what it might be.

Cheers


Bob

[Xander]

Just to be argumentative.. I had the same issue (when i did the led change over). and I could not find a three pin electronic flasher that worked. (the lowest one I could find was a a 3-21, and my draw was less then that..the "led specific universal" ones (motosomthing) only had 2 wires, and the really exxy ones from HG had the resistor built in so it was the same thing (no power saving).... So now I have both the bodging resistor and the electonic flasher in there.. it was the only way I could get both sides to work... it was a real pain in the ass.... Anyway, if you want to give them a try.. let me know..

[BobA]

Xander

Humblest apologies, my "bodge" comments were not aimed at you, just the people who market them.

I didn't actually realise that there were problems getting the electronic units to work, however I notice UltraLEDS now have a little caveat on the bottom of their offering of electronic flasher unit, which is actually a little confusing. http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/complete-...ors-p-978.html


Bob

[chronyx]

Bob I have a scanned copy of the whole Haynes in PDF format I could send you if you like?

You might have to download it from me if I set up a little website as it's about 70mb!