Topic: Is a Zener Diode the answer?

[Soos]

I am switching the indicator dash on my 650 to a (??) '82 cb650 nighthawks.
(smaller guages, 2 less lightbulbs, only 1 each for the speedo and tach)



Problem is.....

The '79 cb650 dash has TWO turn signal bulbs. one for left, one for the right.



The other one I have has only ONE turn signal light in the dash.





I tried(foolishly) to splice both the inputs for the left and right together, and go to the single bulb....

But then when I put on the left turn signal, both front lights flashed, and the right rear flashed.
Turn on the right turn signal and the front would both flash, and the left rear would flash.

I temporarily fit up a '79 dash between the speedo and tach for now... it works
But I really want to fix the correct dash for the speedo and tach and use it.



From what I understand a zener diode lets elec. through one way only.
So I am thinking one on each turn signal lead to the indicator bulb SHOULD fix my problem...

My electrical knowledge is limited...I have started a fire wiring an electrical outlet before... so please help me out here people 






l8r

[cookindaddy]

I don't think that you need a zener diode in this case. Zener diodes are used for regulation.

But any old silicon rectifier diode should work for this as long as it would handle the current of the bulbs. I don't have the bulb data handy, but if it is less than an ampere total, a diode that is readily available and very cheap is a 1N4001 or 02 or 03 (the increasing numbers give the maximum reverse voltage increasing from 50 volts which is what the 01 is good for. The series has a maximum current of 1 amp.

You shouldn't have to pay more that 10-20 cents for one of these diodes.

[HondaMan]

If you just connect the LEFT indicator to the LEFT wire for the front turn signal (up in the headlight) and vice-versa for the RIGHT side, it should work OK. Am I missing something? 

[mystic_1]

Sounds like he's replacing a two-indicator dash with a single-indicator dash.

This would take some wiring skills, but you could replace the stock single indicator bulb on your new dash, with two LED's squeezed into the same space.  One for left, one for right, both sharing the same indicator hole and lens.  No cross-connection needed.

Would that work with your dash?  Got pics?

mystic_1

[HondaMan]

Sounds like he's replacing a two-indicator dash with a single-indicator dash.

Oh, I get it. Duh. 

Then, to do it with diodes, connect the anode of each diode to a LT BLUE and an ORANGE wire anywhere, then join the cathodes together and run that wire to the indicator bulb. The band on the diode is the cathode end. Use any 1 amp diode: a common 1N4001 is enough (the last digit, "1", is 50v, a "2" is 100v, "3" is 200v, "4" is 400 v rating).

[Soos]

thought I had attached those pics,



Thnx for the clarification on the wiring there Marc.

That with the diagram on the back of the zener diodes makes sense.

[MJL]

You should be able to do it with one bulb and no diodes. Your indicator has two wires, connect one end to the left signal and one end to the right signal. Do not ground the indicator. It will ground through the turn signal light that is not on. That's the way the 750s were wired.



Just try it, it's free.

[mystic_1]

Damn, good thinking.   You're absolutely right that's the way 750's are wired.

mystic_1

[Soos]

hot damn.
I never would have thought of that.


Have to try it.
l8r

[MJL]

I used to do that to the turn signals on my car, so the signal and the marker light would flash alternately.