Outer Limits 4x4 Board

ive changed my lights to LEDS and i have trouble with my indicators being to fast. By the way its in a suzuki sierra

because of the change in resistence it will flash faster. you need a different flasher can, one suitable for led's.

I have the same problem with my wifes zook.
I havnt been able to find a direct swap flasher relay (to suit a zook)suitable for LEDs.
An auto sparkie mate told me you can get "LED resistors" a little box with some resistors in it that you wire in parralell that causes the flasher relay to see a load and slow down.
Will post a bit of info when I sort mine out.

that correct u need to change flasher from resistance tyoe to electronic rely type.... i got mine from QDS (queensland diesel spares) burpengary or rocklea ill have one that you can have if ur north brissy

cheers
simon

the flasher system relies on the inherent resistance of the wire in the filamentous lamps to provide a discharge path in the timer circuitry.

less resistance means a faster cycle...

there are indeed LED/electronic flasher units available to counter this, however i have found that the pinouts (specifically for the Sierra) are different on the base, so a rewire of the plug base on top of the fuse box is required otherwise your just gonna blow fuses.

Btw i got mine from the Auto electrical wholesaler at the hwy end of moss street in springwood, less than $20 from memory.

Spock

You can wire in a resistor, or wire back in the original globe, just put it out of the way. Easiest and cheapest option.

Yeah I got an electonic Narva flasher relay for my Lux that swapped straight over and works a treat apart from the fact that it is totally silent.
But as said the Zook has a different base pin pattern which I cant find a straight exchange LED relay.

just tap into the blinker wires somewhere before the blinker and add a little dual bulb clearence light hidden somewhere, its cheap easy and does the job

HotFourOk wrote:You can wire in a resistor, or wire back in the original globe, just put it out of the way. Easiest and cheapest option.

You can buy a plug in style resistor thingy for about 10 bucks to do this. Most reputable places that sell LED stuff will sell the resistors.
Cheers Dan

thanks for the help ill ask some people on the weekend like battery world or gibbs

Good god, wiring in a resistor or leaving the old globes in place is just a crazy solution to this problem.

It's much simpler than that, simply replace your flasher unit with a non-resistance-dependent type, which will cost you about $18 at Supercheap/Autobarn/Repco wherever.

Normally the flasher unit is in the driver's footwell but obviously it can vary from car to car. Locate it, check what style it is, and swap it for one that is not resistance-dependent. And you're done. If you can't get one that plugs straight in you'll definitely get one that you can hook up with some short wires.

Geez what kind of idiot of an auto elec would recommend resistors... Such a bodge-up, I can't get over what these guys sometimes tell people.

Whats the problem with running resistors? I've been running 18 ohm resistors ever since I put my LEDs on my sierra over a year ago. They work perfectly and I can't see how its "such a bodge up job". All it does is replace the resistance in the circuit that used to be gained from the bulb filament therefore making the resistant type flasher relay work as normal. I got them from jaycar for a grand total of about $1.80 for two.

Sorry for knowing stuff all about electrics, but what does the flasher unit look like; i.e. what would I be looking for to replace?

Also If i say replace my rear lights with LED's (I intend to), and I leave my front and side as Incandescent, will one flasher unit suit, or will two need to be wired in? I understand the resistor idea, however if a single flasher unit can be used I reckon it would be less clutter and soldering (I hate soldering!).

Nev wrote:Whats the problem with running resistors? I've been running 18 ohm resistors ever since I put my LEDs on my sierra over a year ago. They work perfectly and I can't see how its "such a bodge up job". All it does is replace the resistance in the circuit that used to be gained from the bulb filament therefore making the resistant type flasher relay work as normal. I got them from jaycar for a grand total of about $1.80 for two.

Okay, maybe I was a bit full-on, but it's just an unnecessary complexity in the setup and another thing that can fail and then need diagnosis.

The original system is flasher unit plus lamps. If you get the right flasher unit you can retain that system and not confuse yourself or the next person trying to fix your car.

Highway-Star wrote:Sorry for knowing stuff all about electrics, but what does the flasher unit look like; i.e. what would I be looking for to replace?

Also If i say replace my rear lights with LED's (I intend to), and I leave my front and side as Incandescent, will one flasher unit suit, or will two need to be wired in? I understand the resistor idea, however if a single flasher unit can be used I reckon it would be less clutter and soldering (I hate soldering!).

These are both typical.





If you get one that is not resistance-dependent ie it has its own inbuilt timer, then it doesn't matter if you mix LEDs and conventional lamps.

They are usually either two-pin or three-pin and there's at least a decent chance you'll find one that plugs straight in.

chimpboy wrote:

Nev wrote:Whats the problem with running resistors? I've been running 18 ohm resistors ever since I put my LEDs on my sierra over a year ago. They work perfectly and I can't see how its "such a bodge up job". All it does is replace the resistance in the circuit that used to be gained from the bulb filament therefore making the resistant type flasher relay work as normal. I got them from jaycar for a grand total of about $1.80 for two.

Okay, maybe I was a bit full-on, but it's just an unnecessary complexity in the setup and another thing that can fail and then need diagnosis.

The original system is flasher unit plus lamps. If you get the right flasher unit you can retain that system and not confuse yourself or the next person trying to fix your car.

No worries then, I'll agree on that but for me...weekender suzi I didn't mind taking the quick and cheap fix. Things would have been done differently if it was a nice car

Nev wrote:Whats the problem with running resistors? I've been running 18 ohm resistors ever since I put my LEDs on my sierra over a year ago. They work perfectly and I can't see how its "such a bodge up job". All it does is replace the resistance in the circuit that used to be gained from the bulb filament therefore making the resistant type flasher relay work as normal. I got them from jaycar for a grand total of about $1.80 for two.

did you wire them in on each wire or just the positive? (i am guessing positive but just want to be sure )
as said it might be best to go the proper flasher and see how it goes then .. i am heading down this path soon i think.
you guys got pics of your zook lights? ta!

smileysmoke wrote:

Nev wrote:Whats the problem with running resistors? I've been running 18 ohm resistors ever since I put my LEDs on my sierra over a year ago. They work perfectly and I can't see how its "such a bodge up job". All it does is replace the resistance in the circuit that used to be gained from the bulb filament therefore making the resistant type flasher relay work as normal. I got them from jaycar for a grand total of about $1.80 for two.

did you wire them in on each wire or just the positive? (i am guessing positive but just want to be sure )
as said it might be best to go the proper flasher and see how it goes then .. i am heading down this path soon i think.
you guys got pics of your zook lights? ta!

The resistors get wired in parallel. ie. one end to positive, other end to negative wire.
Picture of my lights here http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?t=92912

The resistors need to be wired in series with the the leds to provide the correct voltage drop. If the are wired in parallel to the leds the majority of the current will pass through the leds rather then the resistors and the voltage drop want be enough to operate the flasher.

The reason many people go to LED's, low current draw...

add a resistor back in and you lose that advantage....

if this is what you are doing however, the best place would be to put it in when you solder the led wires into the existing harness, at least it should be easy to find and "logical" in it's location.

If you want some pics... go check the install of my rear ones on pinball;
http://www.pointnshoot.org/index.php?mo ... ges&fid=39

just ignore the bent canopy...

Spock

could've sworn i had an article in there...

Well I just wired them in how the bloke at jaycar told me and it works fine for me. The only reason I went to LED's was tougher (polycarbonate), waterproof and was sick of changing blown bulbs and pulling out rusted light sockets. Plus they look COOL!

how did i tell you to wire them up