NOT ANOTHER L.E.D. Question!!

BLOFLY 636 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Karma :

Anybody who has fitted L.E.D. indicators has found that when you turn one on you see that they are flashing rather quick and that as mentioned on this forum, to fix the problem you can buy a relay from a shop called "ACUMEN". I live in Australia and I can't find such a product, but I have also read that by fitting two 10 watt power resistors in parralel of each indicators wires then you can over come the fast flashing dilema (as posted on this forum by me under the topic heading "INDICATORS"). But has anybody found that their L.E.D. indicators are dimmer than there standard incandecent bulbs where? And if I where to add the resistors to the indicators circuits would this also make them brighter as well as cure the fast flashing dilema? I bought an undertray from ERMAX and it came with small triangular indicators fitted, but nobody can see them during daylight and it is not much better at night time either Sad

also if anybody can supply more info on the acumen relay please do so Very Happy

____________________
Those bloody footpegs......they ought to do away with em!

zx636 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Karma :

There are plenty of the Acumen relays for sale on ebay at around £29 which is rather expensive.

You should note that not all relays that support LEDS will support a mixture, ie normal front bulbs and LED rears. Acumen say they do but from experience i can say they dont. The resister idea is a far better and cheaper however I do not believe this will fix the brightness of the LEDS.

Also LEDS do have a narrow view angle and some undertrays do intend to point them downwards far too much and this may be the problem.

hawkeye · Nova Slayer Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Karma :

To get the same flash rate as with filament bulbs, you'd need to put the same current load on the flasher circuit. This is why the indicators flash quicker when one light goes. To get the same load, measure the resistance of a bulb and put a resistor of this value in series with the LED.

With respect to brightness, the LED is only going to be as bright as its designed to be. More volts doesn't mean more light in an LED as its a semiconductor device. Only way to get more light from it is to get different LEDs.

NB I have never tried to do this, but I offer this advice from elec eng theory and not through blowing LEDs up in practise. Smile

____________________
'89 R/W/B NC30
'The car in front is... in my way'

BLOFLY 636 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

The legal maximum flasher rate is 120 flashes/minute.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

BLOFLY 636 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Karma :

Are these indicators facing downward too much causing the visability of the L.E.D.'s to be reduced?
____________________
Those bloody footpegs......they ought to do away with em!

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

A quick note; I have heard people wiring standard indicator bulbs in to the circuit (inline with the indicators) to give the correct resistance.

zx636 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Karma :

While Ermax dont seem to inform people about LEDS most stipulate that they require a resistor to work. You can as G sais wire in some normal bulbs which will solve the problem but that is no easier that wiring in the resistor, which if it were me, I would ask Ermax for or at least give some guideance.

And yes, those indicators are pointing down rather a lot. A good check is to switch them on and get below and see if the are brighter.

As has been said, you can cure the flashing problem with a new relay, bulbs in line or a resistor but I dont think there is anything you can do about the brightness other than actually change the LEDS themselves.

A point here.
Are the indicators legal. Make sure none of the paperwork you got sais something stupid like not for road use or for show use only, This is a great cop out for manufacturers. If it doesnt say this then ask Ermax for advice as they have sold you something that may be considered not suitable for the job intended. you can check with a bike shop that does MOT's, just ask if they would pass.

But if you are unhappy and consider them unsafe then you should either change the leds or find a way to replace with normal bulbs.

jamie192 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Karma :

Firstly thats one hell of a nice bike, secondly my friend has indicators like that in the same kind of position you can see them fine, as for relays, if u can remove the cover on yours you can bend the connector to make it slower a quicker, thats what i did with mine to make them work and make them flash at the right pace.
____________________
Ride Fast, Brake hard, don't fall off!

Fortuna · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Karma :

Or use a laod resistor across the indicator relay Thumbs Up

BLOFLY 636 · Brolly Dolly Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Karma :

zx636 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Karma :

If I were you and just wanted to test then I would use G's suggestion of wiring a bulb in. Use the old indicators if you still have them. Saves spending more cash. If its no brighter then call Ermax or whoever you got the undertray from. They should have come accross this before and will maybe have a simple solution.

Good luck