Blinker flash rate, revisited

HondaGalToo · 04-19-2005, 9:21 PM

I installed Shock racing LED rear turn signals. As expected, the flash rate is fast. I read this thread and tried the 50 ohm, 10 watt resistor that Conq and Flasher used. It didn't change the flash rate at all. (I'm guessing because they still had bulbs and I have LEDs, which draw even less current?). So I tried the other suggestion in the thread, the 10 ohm, 10 watt. This slows the flash rate back to normal, but it does get very hot, amost too hot to touch. Anyone else find this, and does this hurt anything? Will it be hot enough to melt wires? TIA.

Getsome · 04-19-2005, 9:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

I installed Shock racing LED rear turn signals. As expected, the flash rate is fast. I read this thread and tried the 50 ohm, 10 watt resistor that Conq and Flasher used. It didn't change the flash rate at all. (I'm guessing because they still had bulbs and I have LEDs, which draw even less current?). So I tried the other suggestion in the thread, the 10 ohm, 10 watt. This slows the flash rate back to normal, but it does get very hot, amost too hot to touch. Anyone else find this, and does this hurt anything? Will it be hot enough to melt wires? TIA.

from what I have read in multiple places it seems they will get hot so make sure they aren't mounted on plastic. You should be fine. I was looking at 6 ohm 50 watt resistors. Maybe I will try the 10 ohm 10watt like you did.

Where did you get them? and did you only use one for each side or one for each blinker? I have led's in the front and back so I am not sure if I need one for each or not.

HondaGalToo · 04-19-2005, 10:10 PM

I got them at RadioShack. They get really hot, almost burn-your-finger hot. From what I've read, you need one per blinker. My rear LEDs are the cause, so I have one for each of the rear blinkers. My fronts blink normally, so I know the culprit is the rear LEDs.

Anything I can insulate them with? Is the Libertek flasher relay a better solution? If so, how difficult is installation?

Would a 25 ohm, 10 watt resistor work, but get less hot?

CBR929RE · 04-19-2005, 11:10 PM

I'm no expert by any stretch but them getting that hot sounds like a bad idea. an electrical fire would suck ass. the Kisan Signal Minder is load independant so it fixes the fast flash rate (I emailed them before I bought mine and thats what they said, fixed my fast flash. not caused by LEDs though). its kind of expensive at $100 but it installs very easily on the 929, take the stock relay out and plug in the signal minder.

CBRBob · 04-19-2005, 11:46 PM

Not sure if the 929/954 has a normal flasher relay. If it does, buy a non-load-dependant flasher relay from pep boys for $15. It works if you have all bulbs or all LEDs.
If not, find some resistors on eBay.

CBR929RE · 04-19-2005, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRBob

Not sure if the 929/954 has a normal flasher relay. If it does, buy a non-load-dependant flasher relay from pep boys for $15. It works if you have all bulbs or all LEDs.
If not, find some resistors on eBay.

not sure if its "normal" but the 929 has the little box type, I think thats normal. HGT you could take it out and bring it to the autoparts store and compare. I'm thinking you'd just need a 3 wire one (the 929 is 3 wires).

Bob the 954 has it built onto the board on the back of the guages.

6th Gear · 04-20-2005, 2:12 AM

I have LEDS in the front and rear...this is what I use. You will need 1 for the front and 1 for the rear....scroll down it is item #4810 $15.25 works great
http://www.customdynamics.com/loadequalizer.htm

Scout · 04-20-2005, 7:10 AM

The first time I saw "quick flashers" w/ led's, I was sitting in my truck at a light, in the #2 lane about 2 cars back from the light. It was just turning dusk and I noticed an R1 turning right, out of the corner of my eye.

I thought, not only are those led's bright (when they weren't so common), but they are flashing quick! I bet that catches attention.......wait, it just caught my attention.....hmmmmmmm.

Suffice to say, I MAY be scurting legality, but they are noticable and I don't plan on slowing them down (led's back only- they aren't strobe flashing).

Sorry HG, didn't mean to be a

, just thought I'd add my 1/2 cent.

HondaGalToo · 04-20-2005, 8:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scout

The first time I saw "quick flashers" w/ led's, I was sitting in my truck at a light, in the #2 lane about 2 cars back from the light. It was just turning dusk and I noticed an R1 turning right, out of the corner of my eye.

I thought, not only are those led's bright (when they weren't so common), but they are flashing quick! I bet that catches attention.......wait, it just caught my attention.....hmmmmmmm.

Suffice to say, I MAY be scurting legality, but they are noticable and I don't plan on slowing them down (led's back only- they aren't strobe flashing).

Sorry HG, didn't mean to be a

, just thought I'd add my 1/2 cent.

That is one option, to just leave them flashing quickly and not worry about the heat produced by the resistors! I don't think there's any laws about the flash rate. Hope not, anyway! I have bulbs in the front, so they were normal until I replaced the rear bulbs with LEDs. The resistors work, but the amount of heat produced concerns me. Any other ideas? Thanks for the suggestions so far, I'll look into those as well.

Red Rider · 04-20-2005, 8:19 AM

HGT, got a link for the LED signals?

Baketech · 04-20-2005, 9:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Rider

HGT, got a link for the LED signals?

Probly "Squids я Us".......

Just Kidding...

HondaGalToo · 04-20-2005, 9:26 AM

I actually purchased them in person at a Honda dealer.

They're made by Shock racing. Actually kneedraggers has them, but I'm betting our forum sponsors do as well. I have the mini black ones. They're nice and bright, but I haven't had a chance to make sure they're good and visible in sunlight yet.
Now, if you come up with an idea to slow down the flash rate, lemme know!

I'm now undecided about leaving it fast, or hassling to fix it. The hot resistors concern me. Gotta check some other suggestions...

6th gear...it says those things you install get hot. How hot do they get?

HondaGalToo · 04-20-2005, 9:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baketech

Probly "Squids я Us".......

Just Kidding...

ND4SPD · 04-20-2005, 9:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

I don't think there's any laws about the flash rate. Hope not, anyway!

Yeah, most places probably wouldn't pay a guy to sit there with a stop watch and time the flashes. Then again, most places wouldn't pay a guy to pump your gas either, so you never know

ccwilli3 · 04-20-2005, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

Yeah, most places probably wouldn't pay a guy to sit there with a stop watch and time the flashes. Then again, most places wouldn't pay a guy to pump your gas either, so you never know

LOL! Gotta love jersey!

As for the heat issue: More resistance, more heat as more current is soaked up in the resistor. Less resistance = less heat, but will it really slow your blink rate any?

HondaGalToo · 04-20-2005, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccwilli3

LOL! Gotta love jersey!

As for the heat issue: More resistance, more heat as more current is soaked up in the resistor. Less resistance = less heat, but will it really slow your blink rate any?

That's what I was thinking. It's been awhile since I've had physics, is it an inverse proportion? Does the 10 ohm have more resistance than the 50 ohm? The 50 ohm resistor didn't slow the rate at all, but the 10 ohm did. I was thinking of perhaps trying a 25 ohm and seeing if it works and generates less heat.

ND, good one!

Pete · 04-20-2005, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baketech

Probly "Squids я Us".......

Beat me to it. I always enjoy taking a jab at HGT, she's such a good sport.

ccwilli3 · 04-20-2005, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

That's what I was thinking. It's been awhile since I've had physics, is it an inverse proportion? Does the 10 ohm have more resistance than the 50 ohm?

Not much help here as I've never swapped both of my blinkers, but the higher the number (ie, 10ohm, 100ohm, 1kohm), the more resistance. so a 50ohm resistor will resist the flow of current 5x more than a 10ohm one...

Red Rider · 04-20-2005, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

I actually purchased them in person at a Honda dealer.

They're made by Shock racing. Actually kneedraggers has them, but I'm betting our forum sponsors do as well. I have the mini black ones. They're nice and bright, but I haven't had a chance to make sure they're good and visible in sunlight yet.

Thanks...was just curious to see what they look like.

at Bake!

BillAce · 04-20-2005, 11:38 AM

Hedre is Ohms law for selecting the proper resistor value.

R = (VS - VL) / I

R = resistor value
VS = Supply voltage (12)
VL = Load voltage (usually 2v per LED)
I = Current (usually 20ma)

The key is the number of LED's in the circuit. If you have 4 in series, the voltage would be 8V

So 12-8 =4/.02 = 200 ohms

It's a good idea to go slightly higher to protect from over current, in cars I use 13.6V as my supply voltage.

ccwilli3 · 04-20-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillAce

Hedre is Ohms law for selecting the proper resistor value.

R = (VS - VL) / I

R = resistor value
VS = Supply voltage (12)
VL = Load voltage (usually 2v per LED)
I = Current (usually 20ma)

The key is the number of LED's in the circuit. If you have 4 in series, the voltage would be 8V

So 12-8 =4/.02 = 200 ohms

It's a good idea to go slightly higher to protect from over current, in cars I use 13.6V as my supply voltage.

Cha-ching! That sounds good to me!

HondaGalToo · 04-20-2005, 1:07 PM

Thanks, Bill. Is the total number of LEDs the number of little lights, or does a strip of them count as 1? What would the load voltage be with stock bulbs, compared to the LEDs? The first resistor I put in was 50 ohms, and it didn't slow the flash rate at all. The 10 ohm resistor did, but it gets very hot.