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I installed LEDs on my motorcycle but they blink too fast

Z

zixxer

Diamond Member
My motorcycle has a normal 2 wire per bulb setup. (i.e., each bulb has a ground and a pos, and there are 4 led's total.. front L/R and rear L/R)

I replaced all my signals with leds and they don't work. If I put the regular incadescent bulbs in the front then they all work fine. I'm assuming the LED's are drawing enough current. I've seen "load inducers" but what are these? I'm assuming some sort of resistor or diode setup... I want things to stay as bright as possible.
I've already replaced my flasher module but it still doesn't work right.
 
You need those load inducers (which are just resistors) since the flasher on your bike needs to have some current to work properly.
 
you should figure out how much current the LEDs need and adjust accordingly. (compared to the existing bulbs)
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
You need those load inducers (which are just resistors) since the flasher on your bike needs to have some current to work properly.
Click to expand...

right... But they're like $10. Which is fine, except they're just resistors. Any idea of the what resistance I need? Also; won't that make the led's dimmer?
 
Originally posted by: shuan24
you should figure out how much current the LEDs need and adjust accordingly. (compared to the existing bulbs)
Click to expand...

these things have no markings to show how much current. I mean, it's like 6 or 8 leds... so I dunno
 
I don't believe LED's draw much current at all. And if it's blinking too fast, you might just want to wire some sort of delay circuit on there. Shouldn't be too tough to do
 
Originally posted by: armatron
Originally posted by: Stojakapimp
I don't believe LED's draw much current at all. And if it's blinking too fast, you might just want to wire some sort of delay circuit on there. Shouldn't be too tough to do
Click to expand...

huh?





Does this look like it would work?

http://www.customdynamics.com/images/load_e1.gif
Click to expand...

The link didn't work for me. I haven't messed with circuits in a while, but it seems like you could either use a simple RC setup or an inverter chain. I'll try to find a website that has it
 
Originally posted by: Stojakapimp
Originally posted by: armatron
Originally posted by: Stojakapimp
I don't believe LED's draw much current at all. And if it's blinking too fast, you might just want to wire some sort of delay circuit on there. Shouldn't be too tough to do
Click to expand...

huh?





Does this look like it would work?

http://www.customdynamics.com/images/load_e1.gif
Click to expand...

The link didn't work for me. I haven't messed with circuits in a while, but it seems like you could either use a simple RC setup or an inverter chain. I'll try to find a website that has it
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

 
don't LEDs just store energy until there is enough potential to bridge the diode? so if you wanted to go slower you'd put in a resistor so that potential couldn't build up as quickly?
 
hmmm....i dont' think potential really builds up like that unless you're using a capacitor. Like I don't think simply putting a resistor in there will constantly be changing the potential at the LED. I could be wrong though...i haven't taken a circuits class in a long time and I'm sure there are other people on ATOT that know a lot more about this than i do
 
I've never seen a 'load-inducer' but I would have to assume that they're placed in parallel with the LEDs. The idea is you want to draw MORE current (presumably your flasher circuit is electromechanical instead of electronic) so you need to supply an alternate circuit path. Simplying placing a resistor in series with the LEDs won't do what you need.

Edit: wow, I really butchered the English language on the first pass
 
Originally posted by: armatron
Originally posted by: NutBucket
You need those load inducers (which are just resistors) since the flasher on your bike needs to have some current to work properly.
Click to expand...

right... But they're like $10. Which is fine, except they're just resistors. Any idea of the what resistance I need? Also; won't that make the led's dimmer?
Click to expand...

470 ohms, about.
 
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Originally posted by: armatron
Originally posted by: NutBucket
You need those load inducers (which are just resistors) since the flasher on your bike needs to have some current to work properly.
Click to expand...

right... But they're like $10. Which is fine, except they're just resistors. Any idea of the what resistance I need? Also; won't that make the led's dimmer?
Click to expand...

470 ohms, about.
Click to expand...

seems liek it would make them dim.... a guy at work suggested diodes... said they'd work if hooked up like the picture in the link i provided.. i'll try both methods tonight
 
Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Originally posted by: armatron
Originally posted by: NutBucket
You need those load inducers (which are just resistors) since the flasher on your bike needs to have some current to work properly.
Click to expand...

right... But they're like $10. Which is fine, except they're just resistors. Any idea of the what resistance I need? Also; won't that make the led's dimmer?
Click to expand...

470 ohms, about.
Click to expand...

But we don't know how the LED bulbs he installed are wired. Most likely in series since the bike provides 12V.
 
Originally posted by: Stojakapimp
hmmm....i dont' think potential really builds up like that unless you're using a capacitor. Like I don't think simply putting a resistor in there will constantly be changing the potential at the LED. I could be wrong though...i haven't taken a circuits class in a long time and I'm sure there are other people on ATOT that know a lot more about this than i do
Click to expand...

oops, i was thinking capacitor for some reason 😱
 
From my cousin at Motorcycle Technologies in Anderson , SC.... This is a common problem. BadLands makes a module that will add "load" to the circuit. One for bikes with alarms, one for those without.
Go to www.badlandsmotorcycleproducts.com for info specific to your bike.

Hope this helps
Badlands website

Motorcycle Technologies .... V-Twin specialists, Custom Bikes, etc. 864 224 7616 ask for Chris (my cuz) or Buddy (the other mechanic)
 
You can do it the ghetto way and use a resistor or do it the smarter way and use a capacitor. You would have to do some neato circuit calculations to figure out the right values of Capacitance that you want. Or you can just experiment by putting different capacitors in parrallel until you get the right blinking speed. I'm not sure if you want to lower capacitance or raise it if you want to lower it you got some problems, if you want to raise it all you need to do is add a capacitor in parrallel.
 
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