need help from the electrical gurus

[ladywolf]

Hey guys,
I got tired of the bulbs burning out/breaking/connections coming loose on my lights from the Shrockworks kit, so the hubby installed the 3'' round lights that you see on trailers and stuff....believe it or not, they fit perfectly. However, I now get the fast flashy's, as if a light is blown. I know I need to add resistance to make them flash regular, but I have no clue how to go about figuring out how much resistance to add. Anybody got helpful advice?

 

[limamike]

Are they LEDs? If so, try a 6 Ohm resistor on each bulb.

 

[GrantK]

Watch the wattage of the resistor if they are regular bulbs. A standard 1/4 resistor can turn into a noise emitting diode (BANG!!!) or start a fire when trying to limit the current for a 25watt bulb. If they are LEDs then a 1/4 resistor will work. To see what wattage resistor you'll need Google "Ohm's Law" and solve for P

 

[Jtraskell]

Won't a "Heavy Duty" type flasher slow down the flashing, all other things being the same? Just a thought......be safe.

 

[ladywolf]

No, they arent LED, they are the regular incandescent 3'' rounds like this:

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/p-4450-4-round-parkingturn-signal-light.aspx

The whole piece is a sealed package, and it has the 2 prong connector on the back.

 

[GrantK]

LW,

You might want to try a lower wattage bulb. If memory serves me, the higher the current (higher wattage bulb) the faster the flasher cycles.

 

[limamike]

LW,

You might want to try a lower wattage bulb. If memory serves me, the higher the current (higher wattage bulb) the faster the flasher cycles.

I looked at a few of the sites that sell these bulbs, and none of the sites I saw listed the wattage. I would guess 20 watts or so.

 

[TexasAg]

I looked at a few of the sites that sell these bulbs, and none of the sites I saw listed the wattage. I would guess 20 watts or so.

20W still seems high for LEDs. I would be guessing in the 3-5W range.

 

[Jtraskell]

Ladywolf, looking at the web site of the product, I had other lights like this years ago. Your "Flasher" is NOT in the light unit. (Not sure if even LED bulbs matter). The flasher looks like square or rectangle box usually located in your fuse box. It is what makes the bulbs, whatever kind, flash. The flasher comes in different configurations. So if your current lights are drawing too much wattage, causing your current flasher to "heat up" and click faster, a more heavy duty flasher should slow down the flash cycle. At least it did years ago when I had the same problem for a different reason....just sayin you might want to look into this for a possible easy fix.

To find the flasher, just open the fuse box turn on the car, click the turn signal and listen...or check the manual. Just a thought some flasher's are under the dash in a stand alone location, I did not look up the TR4' location as of this writing.

Be Safe

 

[limamike]

20W still seems high for LEDs. I would be guessing in the 3-5W range.

She said they're not LEDs.

 

[Froggy]

It's Not Your Grandfather's Turn Signal Flasher

Ladywolf, looking at the web site of the product, I had other lights like this years ago. Your "Flasher" is NOT in the light unit. (Not sure if even LED bulbs matter). The flasher looks like square or rectangle box usually located in your fuse box. It is what makes the bulbs, whatever kind, flash. The flasher comes in different configurations. So if your current lights are drawing too much wattage, causing your current flasher to "heat up" and click faster, a more heavy duty flasher should slow down the flash cycle. At least it did years ago when I had the same problem for a different reason....just sayin you might want to look into this for a possible easy fix.

To find the flasher, just open the fuse box turn on the car, click the turn signal and listen...or check the manual. Just a thought some flasher's are under the dash in a stand alone location, I did not look up the TR4' location as of this writing.

Be Safe

See Attached.

 

[GrantK]

Ladywolf, looking at the web site of the product, I had other lights like this years ago. Your "Flasher" is NOT in the light unit. (Not sure if even LED bulbs matter). The flasher looks like square or rectangle box usually located in your fuse box. It is what makes the bulbs, whatever kind, flash. The flasher comes in different configurations. So if your current lights are drawing too much wattage, causing your current flasher to "heat up" and click faster, a more heavy duty flasher should slow down the flash cycle. At least it did years ago when I had the same problem for a different reason....just sayin you might want to look into this for a possible easy fix.

To find the flasher, just open the fuse box turn on the car, click the turn signal and listen...or check the manual. Just a thought some flasher's are under the dash in a stand alone location, I did not look up the TR4' location as of this writing.

Be Safe

Good luck finding an after-market HD flasher. While it is located near the fuse panel, it's a complete module (ECU) that has an 18 pin connector with 11 wires running in and out.

 

[Jtraskell]

Thanks Froggy and Grant.....yea, I guess it ain't my grandfathers flasher....damn! Oh well, show's my age. I hope Ladywolf can find a solution.

Question for you guys, if one plugs in a trailer with multiple turn signal lights...(increasing the load on the flasher), what does one do now-a-days to overcome this? In my case, it was not just the rear turn signals on the trailer, 'some" of the side running lights would also "blink" with normal rear turn signals. Those extra running lights (along with the vehicles and trailers normal turn signal) drew enough power to cause my "Grandpa's" flasher to run fast. Switched out the flasher, no more problems when towing and only a slightly "Slower" flash when I was not towing. What is one to do now if that happens again? Thanks for the help guys. Be Safe.