led's won't flash - Cut-Weld-Drive Forums

rodderdan · November 11th, 2008, 02:40 PM

Wiring a trike for a guy.He bought led tail lights and they won't flash.This was a question here before.The answer was the led's don't pull enough current to operate the flasher.What was the solution? I searched " led,flasher, turn sigs" none came up with an answer.

**purplemyth** · November 11th, 2008, 02:48 PM

there's a relay/converter needed.

I was one of those who asked a long time ago, and it was here recently, I'll see what I can find unless it gets answered before that~

**Unkl Ian** · November 11th, 2008, 02:49 PM

I think there is a special flasher unit available, for use with LEDs.

**purplemyth** · November 11th, 2008, 02:52 PM

http://www.volksrods.com/forum/showt...&highlight=led

might help

**grumpy** · November 11th, 2008, 02:54 PM

you need a special relay and a resistor, they are sold at Auto Zones type places. I spent about $50 on bulbs, flasher and resistor stuff.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/vie...&highlight=led

second to last post has good info.

rodderdan · November 11th, 2008, 03:56 PM

Thanks guys.I knew it was posted before but couldn't find it.How can we make this easy to find? Sticky thread?

**purplemyth** · November 11th, 2008, 04:21 PM

not a sticky~ but it can be moved~

if anyone has any more info they'd like to add, please do~ then later we'll move it to the tech bin

**Steve** · November 12th, 2008, 05:11 AM

Not as feasible on a trike... but another option is to just simply wire a small standard incadescent type bulb in the circuit somewhere outta the way. That way the incadescent bulbpulls enough to trigger the clicker... causing the LEDs to flash as well.

fishguts · November 12th, 2008, 05:12 AM

Just remember LED's have positive and negative sides and must be wired that way, unlike conventional bulbs which can be wired either way and still work.

**grumpy** · November 12th, 2008, 06:45 AM

The inline incandescent bulb can be replaced with the kit from Auto Zone.

The LED flasher is about $12, the resistor kit it about $12 and does 2 bulbs, all you need.

It depends on your budget or how you want to do it.

ebay 230304234080

ebay 370110221245

duct-tape · November 12th, 2008, 07:35 AM

I made blinker's for a buddy's car using the hazard relays that I had laying in my parts pile.

UncleSlacker · November 12th, 2008, 07:54 AM

There's a way to wire them and they'll work correctly... I'm not an electronics expert but I have been playing with capacitors and resistors a little bit building guitar amps and cigar box guitars, etc.

There was a time when I was terribly interested in LED technology and had a bookmark to a Japanese website. The site's no longer there but with the majic of the WAYBACK MACHINE we can still obtain some information.

http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~chevys10/ appears to be back up but I can no longer locate the LED information. Anyone understand Japanese?

"Don't touch my mustache" is all I know. DOMO.

http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://....jp/~chevys10/

Here's the page with the LED info

http://web.archive.org/web/200205252....jp/~chevys10/

http://web.archive.org/web/200206091...100ledeng1.htm

This array of five LEDs and a 300 Ohm resistor, you could arrange as many arrays as needed, add in the resistors and it should flash properly???

Maybe you could give it a try and tell up what happens.

DISCLAIMER - I am not responsible for unexplained fires, be careful testing this stuff!

**radiotrib** · November 12th, 2008, 12:41 PM

build your own flasher circuit ... http://www.arduino.cc/ ... and have fun in the process.

You can use them to drive gauges and switch relays too ... in fact, all sorts of funky stuff.

erminger · November 12th, 2008, 12:56 PM

I used an electronic flasher, requires no load to operate, on the same rack as the other flashers at advanced. only cost a little more and is made by Trico.

works great on tow vehicles too, the extra load of the trailer lights doesnt make them blink super fast.

rodderdan · November 12th, 2008, 01:19 PM

Gonna go with the electronic flasher.To me this is the easiest way to go.Why wire in extra stuff when all you need is a different flasher? It's all being custom made anyhow.

**grumpy** · November 12th, 2008, 01:52 PM

i had to use both the LED flasher and the LED resistor. i have 100% new wires front to back and 100% clean terminals.

**purplemyth** · March 9th, 2009, 11:43 AM

http://www.volksrods.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19778

Not related to the above question but just adding this because it has more led info that may help someone else.

heinekendesign · March 18th, 2009, 10:06 PM

I got mine from a local trailer parts supply house.

My problem was I had led reverse, turn brake and running lights all as sepperate lights on a truck bed I just built.

as you can see it has lots of lights.

It does not bother me too much but the turn signals do fire more rapidly than most.

BH

livin_in_a_cell · March 25th, 2009, 05:45 PM

Well i looked at all the posts we have on the led led lights and no one seems to say how to make your brake/turn on the same light? because i purchased some baja round lights and when i apply brakes it wont flash. how can i fix this?
thnx

Bob Cathcart · April 22nd, 2009, 10:57 PM

Speedway has the correct flashers for the high efficency LEDs. 15 bucks work great. The electronic would not work for me.

slodown · August 27th, 2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livin_in_a_cell

Well i looked at all the posts we have on the led led lights and no one seems to say how to make your brake/turn on the same light? because i purchased some baja round lights and when i apply brakes it wont flash. how can i fix this?
thnx

your baja is not setup for both brake and signal. Most brake and signal combos are really two separate circuits going to one bulb with two filaments. Essentially, the taller filament is the brake and will operate when the pedal is depressed while the smaller filament is for the less bright signal flasher.

Even with an LED light setup installed, its easier to do two separate brake and signals circuits in the same light receptacle.

livin_in_a_cell · August 31st, 2009, 08:07 PM

Well I managed to get it to work. i found a trailer converter and it works great. The led's are only a dual filament so when i hit the brakes and tun on a signal one light stays lit and the other flashes. Was bothersome at first since the first one i bought was bad but the second on i got worked just fine

Woodie · September 8th, 2010, 02:27 PM

Try building this flasher, http://www.redcircuits.com/Page26.htm It worked for me on my 73. now have led turn and running Lts. Adjust size of c1 c2 for duration of LT on and Off. If done neatly you can fit it into the shell of your exsiting flasher and just plug it back in. If you also change the Indicator LT in dash to LED you can use Transistors from Radio shack.

HickstyleZ · November 25th, 2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

Not as feasible on a trike... but another option is to just simply wire a small standard incadescent type bulb in the circuit somewhere outta the way. That way the incadescent bulbpulls enough to trigger the clicker... causing the LEDs to flash as well.

FUCK MAN I LOVE THE WAY YOU THINK TEACH ME!!! YOUR WAYS! then u have cooler under cab lighting

RickIntihar · April 8th, 2011, 05:18 AM

I didn't see it posed anywhere in here but the Blazer EP35 flasher relay, conveniently stocked at every Autozone, is an electronic relay that works with LED's. No need to wait around for a flasher relay off eBay or load resistors that get smoking hot.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...fier=6415_0_0_