Using resistors with LEDs

[steves]

Okay, so last night I pulled the Bandit out of the shed, fired it up, dusted it off... and went looking for the signal relay. What I found was that some suzuki engineer decided to use some 6 prong monstrosity that controls other electrical functions.

My search on adding resistors yielded these notes:
"two ten watt, ten ohm resistors"
"two series pairs of 10 watt resistors"
for each LED signal in the circuit.

Now, my buddy the electrical genius sent this back to me:

(+)  ------/\/\/\10ohm/\/\/\------/\/\/\10ohm/\/\/\------[turn signal]---------  (-)

Is that a valid solution to a fast blink issue?

[steves]

Nobody knows anything about ICs? Jax? Peter?

[Black_peter]

Sorry Steve I though you posted this elsewhere and got some love...

The resistors want to be between the signal wire and ground. 20 Ohm 20 Watt should be OK. You really don't need that much resistance but you do need a fairly high wattage.

But for less than the price of the parts you can get the $2 flasher relay.

[steves]

Sorry Steve I though you posted this elsewhere and got some love...

The resistors want to be between the signal wire and ground. 20 Ohm 20 Watt should be OK. You really don't need that much resistance but you do need a fairly high wattage.

But for less than the price of the parts you can get the $2 flasher relay.

Okay, so last night I pulled the Bandit out of the shed, fired it up, dusted it off... and went looking for the signal relay. What I found was that some suzuki engineer decided to use some 6 prong monstrosity that controls other electrical functions.

Um.....

They go before or after the signals?

(+)  ------/\/\/\10ohm/\/\/\------/\/\/\10ohm/\/\/\------[turn signal]---------  (-)

OR

(+)  ------[turn signal]-----/\/\/\10ohm/\/\/\------/\/\/\10ohm/\/\/\----------  (-)

[crazyboy68]

they should go between the blinkers and the relay.

[Black_peter]

Hmm Where did you get that crazyboy?

From Superbright LEDs:
6 Ohm, 50 Watt resistors can be connected across the turn signal bulbs to simulate the load of a regular filament bulb (2 Amp load). This will solve LED related turn signal problems such as hyper flashing or burnt out bulb indications.
CONNECTION INSTRUCTIONS: Using included splice taps, connect one wire to ground and the other wire to the turn/brake hot wire. Splice taps allow for installation without cutting your turn signal wires.

They sell the simplest kit. The smaller one ($4, 25 ohm/25 watt) is probably fine on a bike.

[steves]

So the resistor gets connected to both sides of the wire?

[Black_peter]

Right. You want to change the load. Running it in series just changes the voltage drop of the LED.

[steves]

|-Signal---|
|-resistor-|
|-resistor-|
|          |
|          |
+          -

[Black_peter]

|------Signal-------|
|-resistor-resistor-|
|                   |
|                   |
+                   -

[Sin]

you only need one per side 8hm 20watt 12volt resistor




+----resistor----- -

[Black_peter]

That's right, you don't even need 8 ohms.
But you do need more than 10 watts..

I was advising Steve based on his notes (and I thought what he had for parts)

[crazyboy68]

my fault i thought changing the voltage drop of the load would accomplish the same thing. i have not dealt with any led change overs. learn something every day lol

[steves]

No parts purchased yet. I'm trying to instruct my friend the electrical genius on what I am attempting to perform.... without the proper input he has no idea what I'm talking about.

Thanks guys...

[Sin]

That's right, you don't even need 8 ohms.
But you do need more than 10 watts..

I was advising Steve based on his notes (and I thought what he had for parts)

oh what ever rocketsurgeon then gregs led and wattsen designs and all the other people who make led turn signals are using the wrong resistors then not to mention the fact ive actually used the same resistors several times with no problems but that dont count in the eye of the great blackpecker head