Author Topic: Help! Custom LED Indicator Light Cluster Not Working (Update) I've Got Light  (Read 5271 times)

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Offline Steve F

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Re: Help! Custom LED Indicator Light Cluster Not Working
« Reply #25 on: July 14, 2010, 03:23:45 PM »
Try reversing a few of the leads on the flasher until a combination works.  Be careful that if you put the ground (green) wire in line with the input lead you could blow a fuse.  I had to go through this process when I bought one of those "tin can" flashers that weren't labeled on the connections.

Offline Slams77

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Re: Help! Custom LED Indicator Light Cluster Not Working
« Reply #26 on: July 14, 2010, 04:00:56 PM »
After reading most of this post, not all, I'm scratching my head about WHY you're messing around with resistors!  The problem lies in the flasher.  If you have a TRUE electronic flasher, you don't need anything else since these things have their own flasher circuit that essentially turns on and off a relay inside, which makes your lights flash.  They will have 3 (three) connections, positive (+) which gets connected to the incoming current supply in the circuit, the load connection which goes to the output side of the circuit which supplies the bulbs, and the green (-) ground wire.  These wires are easy to determine with the flasher disconnected from the wiring.  Turn on the bike and test all three of the wires for the presence of voltage.  If nothing, turn on either the left or right turn signal...it doesn't matter, and you should have voltage present at ONE of the wires.  This the INPUT connection to the flasher.  Attache the green wire (usually NOT used with the stocj flasher) to the NEGATIVE (-) connection.  The last wire, the LOAD is a no-brainer at this point.
Get yourself a REAL electronic flasher, and ditch the resistors. The ONLY reason you are getting the lights to blink with the resistors is that you're creating enough current to cause the cheapo flasher to operate....which is a CURRENT DEPENDANT flasher, NOT an electronic one.
Cheers,
Steve F
I am now actually thinking of dishing out $20.00 for an electronic flasher relay that is also supposed to work for an all LED blinker system.  I initially thought that by placing resistor(s) directly in-line with each indicator lights wiring it would clear up the problem, but I am starting to see that it isn’t that simple.  I may still try a resistor closer to a 3.5w bulb to see how it holds up but I’m leaning towards the flasher unit at this point.  And although somewhat frustrating at times, it’s been rewarding knowing that I am putting my motorcycle together and that I am understanding it a lot more (and in some cases a little more) each time I work on it.  I am also amazed to see the abundance of knowledge and help other members have offered me trying to straighten this out.

Two things to remember here: placing a resistor inline in a circuit reduces the voltage to the LED's and may cause them to not function at all.  Second, the main purpose for having LED's (at least as far as I'm concerned) is to reduce the total current required and the drain on the bike's electrical system.  LED's are great for this purpose.  Placing resistors in the system to simulate a bulb defeats this and essentially, you still have the same current draw that you would with incandescent bulbs. 
Steve F
I kinda thought the same thing, but I figured it wouldn’t draw too much current since the indicator lights are more intermittent than constant.  I did place an order today for a flasher relay that should be compatible with an all LED system, I’ll report back once I have received and installed it.

Offline Slams77

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I Just received my LED Flasher Relay from http://customled.com/products/flasher_relay/flasher_relay.htm.  I changed the connectors to fit my harness connectors, and now the turn signal indicator lights flash along with the blinkers.  Now on to relocating my ignition switch.