Topic: Turn signal wiring woes

[IainC]

I ordered a new set of turn signals for my cb650 but am a little stumped on how I'm going to get them working. When it comes to sorting out electrical problems on my bike I'm completely lost.

So the turn signals I got are just small marker lights. They appear to have multipul filaments in the bulb, but only two wire leads coming off them. My original lights had 3 wires, 2 that went to the blinker relay I believe and 1 ground. This light only has a black and a red wire, my guess is the black would be a ground.

My questions are, will I need to buy a new flasher relay for these, and if so what should I be buying? And do you think the black wire may be something other than a ground wire?

Any help would be great.

[IainC]

bump

[grumpy]

the ground is the flasher body itself - no ground wire. just make sure you're bolting iot to something that has continuity with the frame ground (i.e. bolt it to something metal that touches the frame).

one of your leads is the hot for the low beam, the other is the high.

[Gordon]

I'll assume you're talking about the front turn signals only, since the rear are single filament and only act as blinkers, not running lights.  

On your stock front lights, one wire is for the running light filament which is connected to the headlight circuit and should be on any time the ignition is turned on.  One wire is for the blinker filament.  The other (green) wire is the ground.

Many after market turn signals ground through their housing directly to the bike.  This is fine as long as where you mount it is metal and has a good connection to the frame.  The only thing your new turn signals don't have that the stock ones do is that ground wire.  Everything else should work and wire in the same.  

[Gordon]

the ground is the flasher body itself - no ground wire. just make sure you're bolting iot to something that has continuity with the frame ground (i.e. bolt it to something metal that touches the frame).

one of your leads is the hot for the low beam, the other is the high.

Have to disagree with you there.

Turn signals/running lights don't have a hi/low function.  One filament/wire for the blinker, one filament/wire for the running light. 

[grumpy]

Have to disagree with you there.

Turn signals/running lights don't have a hi/low function.  One filament/wire for the blinker, one filament/wire for the running light.  

yep - you're right. I was thinking "flasher" but typing "hi/low".
one lead = running
the other = blinker

[IainC]

Thanks guys, I suspected this but was hesitant to try plugging both in without a ground for fear I'd break them and be stuck with a broken part. Normally I would assume black is ground. I'll give it a shot when I get home.

[Gordon]

Have to disagree with you there.

Turn signals/running lights don't have a hi/low function.  One filament/wire for the blinker, one filament/wire for the running light.  

yep - you're right. I was thinking "flasher" but typing "hi/low".
one lead = running
the other = blinker

Figured it was something like that.