Fast Indicators

Post by **Spike_Sierra** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:59 pm

changed my big g.hey looking indicators on the front of my bus for little trailer ones, looks good but...now they blink much faster..
all the globes are fine.
my theory - the globes are much smaller wattage - the indicators are in series therefore if one blows sends more power the the others - therefore the smaller globes are less wattage and more power - blinks faster

am i on some sort of right track here or have i gone off in the bush somewhere....

if by chance i am right, how would i correct it.(obvious answer get some bigger wattage globes but in the same small globe shape)

Post by **RoldIT** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:05 pm

Easy answer ... yes.

You're pretty much correct on all counts, just find replacement globes of the highest wattage you can find. The higher the wattage, the slower they flash.

Post by **phippsy** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:06 am

You could put an electronic flasher unit in that doesn't rely on the bulbs resistance for the speed. Did this when I put led taillights in.

Post by **DamTriton** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:08 am

Even the newer electronic ones flash faster with low wattage lamps. It is done intentionally to alert you to the fact that you have a blown globe. (which it did...)

Post by **Spike_Sierra** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:10 am

ahh wicked,
will try and hunt some globes down..
thanks again guys

Post by **Mudzuki** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:04 am

Just get a non load sensetive flasher, cheaper and reduces the load on the system with lower wattage globes or LEDs.

Post by **Spike_Sierra** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:07 am

wouldnt that mean changing it over in the steering column?
i will see how it goes with the different globes as cbf messing around too much...
i might just have to live with indicators going spastic...

Post by **chimpboy** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:08 am

Mudzuki wrote:Just get a non load sensetive flasher, cheaper and reduces the load on the system with lower wattage globes or LEDs.

I'd agree with this. It's going to cost you a lot less than swapping all your globes and it's simpler.

Jason

Post by **chimpboy** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:10 am

Spike_Sierra wrote:wouldnt that mean changing it over in the steering column?
i will see how it goes with the different globes as cbf messing around too much...
i might just have to live with indicators going spastic...

I don't know where the flasher unit is in a sierra but it's normally a small item that looks like a relay, somewhere in a wall cavity near your feet.

It should be pretty easy to swap.

Jason

Post by **Spike_Sierra** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:40 am

ahh right, will have to trace the wires back and try and find it,
i only have to replace 2 globes, will see how we go.

Post by **Utemad** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 6:38 pm

No need to trace wires. Just turn your indicators on and stick your head under the dash. You will be able to hear it. If it is with a bunch of others and you can't decide exactly which one it is then touch them all and you will feel the internal contacts clicking in and out.

Post by **Mudzuki** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:32 am

Really easy to find in the zuk. Just look in the drivers side footwell, really easy to spot on the fuse panel on the firewall.

Post by **Spike_Sierra** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 7:07 pm

i rekon i might have to do this as i cant get any 21w 12v globes in that size...
anyone know how much they would be..

Post by **chimpboy** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 7:24 pm

Spike_Sierra wrote:i rekon i might have to do this as i cant get any 21w 12v globes in that size...
anyone know how much they would be..

They should only be about ten bucks, but it wouldn't surprise me if people were trying to charge 20ish. What you want is a "variable load electronic flasher relay", where "variable load" means it doesn't matter what wattage (load) the lamps are.

Some examples on page 135 of this catalogue: http://www.ashdown.com.au/ezyedit/fileL ... fuses3.pdf (just a random google find there.)

I think SuperCheap would have them but I've never looked for one. Someone who has bought one might have a better idea.

Jason

Post by **chimpboy** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 12:50 pm

FYI I have just been on a reconnaissance mission to Supercheap and had a look for these.

They have a big range of two- and three-pin flasher relays, both load sensitive and non-load sensitive, all around $20. To solve the fast indicator problem, what you want is a non-load sensitive one.

The two-pin ones are cheaper, as low as $12; I assume that they are internally switched so that all the power to the indicators goes through the indicator stalk switch. I think these would probably do but personally I'd be going with a three-pin one since I'd rather burn out a relay than burn out my stalk switch.

Jason

Post by **Top Cat** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 10:53 pm

The other problem you may find if you were to put higher wattage globes in is that the plastic case and lens of the new blinkers may not accept the extra heat generated and hence it may melt.

The fact they came with a lower wattage globe suggests that is probably what they were built for.........although not necessarily.

Post by **Spike_Sierra** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 12:03 am

good point there mate, but probably doesnt matter with indicators as much as it would with park lights as they arent on all the time but still....
the switch was easy enougn to find and easy enough to change, now just gotta find one thats NON load sensitive

Post by **chimpboy** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:16 am

Spike_Sierra wrote:..
the switch was easy enougn to find and easy enough to change, now just gotta find one thats NON load sensitive

Supercheap, see my post above - I had a look on the weekend while I was buying other stuff.

Jason

Post by **Spike_Sierra** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:26 pm

ahh im blind, sorry ChimpBoy

trip out to supercheap sometime this week then.
mines got 3 pins initially so i should get that one im guessing.

its weird tho, a mate in his zooks got the same indicators and his are fine. probably a non load already

Post by **stuckwithlux** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:57 pm

you could just drop by dicksmith and get a couple of resistors, put them in series with each globe and away you go, probably cost about 2 bucks. wrap em in heatshrink to seal them from any mud etc... or find a dryer spot to put them inline. going on ohms law roughly i reckon you would need a 7 ohm resistor if you were to replace a 21 watt globe, i havent taken into account the smaller globe you have got at the moment so maybe get a 5 ohm 20 watt resistor. should work.

Website · Post by **murcod** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:41 pm

It would make the globes duller as they wouldn't be getting the full 12V dropped across them.

Post by **Spike_Sierra** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:30 pm

i found some 21w globes at home, chucked them in, no more fast blinks

Post by **cloughy** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 2:44 pm

murcod wrote:It would make the globes duller as they wouldn't be getting the full 12V dropped across them.

They would need to be placed in parellal

Post by **chimpboy** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 4:34 pm

cloughy wrote:
murcod wrote:It would make the globes duller as they wouldn't be getting the full 12V dropped across them.
They would need to be placed in parellal

Placing resistors in parallel could only reduce the resistance, and low resistance is what is causing the fast blinking to start with.

Post by **cloughy** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:42 pm

chimpboy wrote:
cloughy wrote:
murcod wrote:It would make the globes duller as they wouldn't be getting the full 12V dropped across them.
They would need to be placed in parellal
Placing resistors in parallel could only reduce the resistance, and low resistance is what is causing the fast blinking to start with.

Sorry well spotted 1/Rt=1/R1+1/R2 etc didn't fink it rite frew

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