Topic: After market indicators - little electrical help?

[Nortstudio]

I swapped out my indicator panel for an aftermarket cluster. Problem is, I believe it was made for A cb450 (I have a '76 550K), which must have lights for both left and right turn signals?

Everything is working fine, except the turn signal indicator only flashes when I hit the right turn - not the left turn.

Not sure if there is a way I can jumper inside the bucket???  I would be willing to lose the high beam indicator if that's an easier fix.

Any help is much appreciated.

Scott

[c(b)hris]

what if you jumper the hot from your left turn signal indicator to the hot from your right indicator?  idk.

nevermind.

[Nortstudio]

When you say nevermind, are you thinking that won't work?  I was hoping for something simple like that. what's the chance?  Never that simple

[c(b)hris]

When you say nevermind, are you thinking that won't work?  I was hoping for something simple like that. what's the chance?  Never that simple

I just mean nevermind because I just typed it as my first thought without looking at your wiring diagram.  My first thought was that you would have different wires from your left indicator and from your right with I think maybe mine had a common ground for the indicator cluster....but a different wire from each indicator for hot. 

Then I started to think that maybe each indicator light piggy-backs into the left or right signal circuit, in which case if you jumpered them together your signals would I imagine work like four-ways.  So it was just nevermind because I'm ignorant. 

But who knows, right?  Try it and see.  I couldn't quickly find a diagram for your wiring....mine is a 75 and only has a single indicator for both signals.

[Nortstudio]

I think the '75 & '76 are pretty similar. I definitely only have one indicator for both side turns. The guy at the place I bought them said something about running diodes in line with the LED/resisters, but I can't tell if I'm supposed to do that AND jump it.

Having a hard time wrapping my mind around it.

[c(b)hris]

I think the '75 & '76 are pretty similar. I definitely only have one indicator for both side turns. The guy at the place I bought them said something about running diodes in line with the LED/resisters, but I can't tell if I'm supposed to do that AND jump it.

Having a hard time wrapping my mind around it.

Sorry I think I misunderstood you.  I thought you had two different indicators normally and your new dash only had one.  Do you know definitely what bike your new dash is for?

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o10/Einyodeler/CB550.jpg
http://schematicwiring.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Honda-CB750F78-wiring-diagram.jpg

[bollingball]

Nort can you post a link to where you bought them or a pic of them?

[Nortstudio]

My 550 wiring looks a little different than that 750 diagram. But basically the same thing.

This is what I have: http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-parts-hawk-technologies-honda-cb450-cl450-cb500-aluminum-dash-dual-mini-gauge-kit-hc-cb450mini.html

To clarify: the right signal is te one that triggers the indicator - not the left. I think I posted it backwards before.

The way is stands: right turn signal enters bucket and hot hits a 4 connector which has Light blue (from harness), and light blue from bar switch, and the hot from the LED. The ground from right turn signal goes to a 3 connector which connects light blue/white strip to harness and bar switch.

The left turn signal enters bucket and hot to 4 box that has orange going to harness, orange going to bar switch and the difference being the fourth slot in that connector is occupied by the ground from the LED.

Somewhere in there I am getting no indicator signal to the LED when I hit the bar turn signal to the left.

REALLY hate electrics

[Nortstudio]

This is the diode fix that the guy sent me. It has me slightly MORE confused.

[domer]

well his diagram is correct, you can get two diodes at any radio shack or the like. all they are going to do is prevent power from going back down the other side.... example, left signal on, power will only feed the indicator, but if there isnt a diode in place on the right side, you will feed power back to the right blinker (not good)

so get 2 diodes, and some heat shrink (this is assuming you have a soldering iron and solder) solder diodes in place with the stripe (cathode side) going toward your indicator panel. heat shrink em, voila!

[Nortstudio]

Thanks folks. Of course, the closest Radio Shack doesn't carry those types of parts. Figures!  I'll give it a shot and see where I end up.

Appreciate all the help. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[skamagedon]

on the 550 the cluster light comes inline before the power to the LH control. you would have to take power from the blue and orange to each light in the new cluster respectivly if that helps.

[skamagedon]

what if you jumper the hot from your left turn signal indicator to the hot from your right indicator?  idk.

nevermind.

my prior was a +1 btw

[Nortstudio]

on the 550 the cluster light comes inline before the power to the LH control. you would have to take power from the blue and orange to each light in the new cluster respectivly if that helps.

Sadly, that just confuses me more

Are you saying the diagram above is wrong?  All the indicators currently work, including the turn signal, except that one only work for one side.

[Nortstudio]

Ok, without clarification from that last guy, I went and grabbed the diodes. Can anyone tell me if it's possible to clip the diodes before soldering them?  I'm assuming I can - but I just want to double check before I do something stupid.

Thanks

[malcolmgb]

Can I just say this is the most bizarre thread I have read, the diode picture? what is that all about? why do people talk in code? 'hot' do you mean 12v? I need a lie down in a dark room. 

[Nortstudio]

The diode/schematic pic was what I got from the seller of the unit itself. He was trying to clarify - but I wasn't clear unfortunately.

Hot was my bad. There are two wires that come from the LED lights - red and black. I used the term hot. That was all me, I take the heat.

Take a "lie down" and then maybe you can let me know whether I can snip this diode.

[funkdr5]

I think that schematic was spot on! Yes you can clip them and test it before you solder.

[Nortstudio]

Thanks!

[Nortstudio]

Alright, well if this was the craziest post ever, I'm afraid it may get crazier.

I installed the diodes on both positive (red) leads of the turn signals. Just like the diagram above stated. Still works exactly the same way now. I mean, at least the turn signals work, right. Half full baby! 

I guess the thing that has me confused at this point is that it seems to me, that the left signal (the one not triggering the idiot light) doesn't seem to hit the red wire from the idiot light at any time. The right signal comes in and eventually is tied to a connector with the idiot light on it. Granted, I'm trying to trace this through the maze of wire in the bucket - but I can see it pretty clearly.

Any further ideas are much appreciated. Thanks for all your time folks.

[malcolmgb]

If you go to http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/wiring.html for a simplified animated drawing of Honda wiring it may be more helpful to you to understand how things electrical work. You will see that the original Honda warning light worked by backfeeding through the left/right wiring, something an LED (diode) cannot do.

[Nortstudio]

I will check it out as soon as I get to a regular computer. I was able to rig it so the 2 LEDs supplied with the cluster are operating as individual left and right indicators.  The one indicator was supposed to be for the high beam - which I was willing to lose if need be.

 I ended up jumping it and got it to work, but of course now the one indicator acts as both the high beam AND the turn. So I'll have to suss that out tomorrow and get it off the high beam all together. Not sure if I should go back and lose the diodes, or if they are harmless in line with the turn signals.

Thanks so much for your patience folks.

[malcolmgb]

You don't say what voltage the LED requires, without a resistor you are trying to put 12V through it.
You don't say what diodes you have, again they need to work with 12v.

The drawing you have, though not particularly clear, should work. By joining the cathode ends (black line) together and connecting to the red wire on the LED, the black wire on the LED goes to the Honda green wire 0v (ground), then each anode end of the diodes goes to the left (orange wire) and right (light blue wire).

[Nortstudio]

Sorry. Lack of info. Not good.

The LEDs have resisters in them - and came with the unit, so I figured should be ok for the 12v. The diodes they suggested are micromini: 200v-1A.

Your explanation makes sense (I think I can get this!). It's not at all what I have, but I can switch it tomorrow.

Just so I understand:  solder the cathode ends of two diodes together and also to the red LED wire (a Y point). Then take the black LED wire and get that to ground. Then the other ends of the two diodes are soldered to the leads that go to where they used to before I started this crazy mess.

Make sense?

[TwoTired]

How many forum members does it take to install a lamp?