Topic: Lighting Help

[danielssean14]

I just bought a used bike without a working flasher relay. I was like, no big deal because I was going to swap for LEDs so I'll just install a new LED relay. Now, I've gone through 3 different LED relays with no luck.
Problem: LEDs do not flash on any relay I have tried, I've tried a standard LED relay and 2 different adjustable LED relays. I've shot continuity with a DVM to test the wiring harness: wire harness good. Proper ground connection? Shot fine.
With all 3 relays, lights only turned on with one way, but relay got hot fast. Probably not right. (Note: Bike uses 2 pin flasher relay) With the other way, LEDs are dim. With the 2 adjustable relays, you can adjust the dimness of the lights, but it won't get any brighter or flash.
I've tried swapping wires for turn signals (Note: Only 2 wire lights. Yellow for + and Black for -/G ) but no light visible.
I've also tried on a test wiring harness with only connections for lights, battery, and switches. It appeared with the same output.
Does anyone have any other ideas on what I can do?

[flybox1]

put non-LED bulbs in either the front or the rear blinkers.

[CycleRanger]

What bike?
You do know that the front signals are also running lights that require dual element bulbs.

[Deltarider]

Put non-LED bulbs in both front and rear blinkers and be done with it for less than a $ 1. Bonus: better noticed and safer indicators.

[BomberMann650]

There's nothing wrong with LED turn sigs.

I'm wondering if someone mixed up the ground wires that connect in the headlight bucket.  That usually trips folks up.

[Deltarider]

There's nothing wrong with LED turn sigs.

They are less alive* than bulbs that glow on and glow off. Also bulbs offer a much, much wider angle where the indicator is noticed. Try it out for yourself.
* Carmaker Audi realised this also and they choose this solution to make indicators livelier and better noticed. Difficult to realise on a bike however.

[RAFster122s]

With LED bulbs you will need to use a pair of blocking diodes on the turn signal wiring.  The indicator light for the signal uses the opposite side to serve as ground, but in a LED circuit it screws things up and they stay on.

Simple small 1A diode will often fix the issue unless something is wired/connected wrong.

David

[millla03]

+1 on what David said.

This modification can be done by making a sub-harness that is plugged into factory wiring with no modifications to stock harness. I have a rough wiring diagram kicking around from when I converted my signals to all LED if you're interested. You're basically wiring in diodes between the L/R signal circuits and the idiot light, and then running a new ground to complete the circuit on the other side of this light. Incandescent front or rear works too, but it is possible to have functional LED signals on all corners.

Luke

[Bankerdanny]

I run a solid state regulator with an LED in the front (which is always on in the US) and a standard bulb in the rear. When I was LED's all around my signals refused to flash, now they work perfectly.

LED rears don't save you any power since they are off 99% of the time.

My LED fronts and tail light are MUCH brighter than the conventional bulbs that were in their originally. I also have LED's in the gauges and an LED headlamp assembly. These are lights that are on whenever the bike is running, so they reduce the total draw on my electrical system, which I like, plus are brighter, which I also like.

The gauge and turn/tail bulbs are all from Superbright, the headlight is from Ebay, but is DOT approved (although likely for cars rather than motorcycles.