Attention electrical & lighting guru's! HELP!

[kelvis]

Hi Guys,

I have recently fitted a new gauge bracket & LED idiot lights to a XS360 that I am building and have run into an issue:

The neutral indicator LED keeps burning out. It is wired in the same way that the original globe indicator was and the switch is in good order and operating correctly.

It will work for for a short period of time (the first few turns of the ignition key) and then stops. The oil pressure light, high beam & indicator LED's have been fine, but neutral light keeps failing. I am onto my third LED and am getting a little frustrated!

Any ideas? Cheers.

 

[Sonreir]

What type of LED are you using?

 

[BIG E]

That gage mount looks great.

 

[kelvis]

What type of LED are you using?

12V DC, manufacturer states inputt voltage of 9-16V DC.

 

[kelvis]

That gage mount looks great.

Cheers. Drafted it in CAD and had it water jet cut in 3mm aluminium plate.

 

[CJHusband]

Could be an under rated led? Are you using resistors at all?

 

[CJHusband]

Could be an under rated led? Are you using resistors at all?

Never mind. I didn't see your previous answers. Forgot to refresh. Sorry.

 

[CJHusband]

12V DC, manufacturer states inputt voltage of 9-16V DC.

Have you checked how much power you're supplying to the leds? Might be that one is higher...?

 

[Sonreir]

Run a 1000 ohm resistor (1/4 watt) inline with the LED to help limit current.

 

[kelvis]

Run a 1000 ohm resistor (1/4 watt) inline with the LED to help limit current.

Thanks Sonreir. Forgive my electrical ignorance, but inline as in just on the positive wire?

 

[Sonreir]

Resistors aren't polarized so it doesn't matter if it's positive or negative. Just make sure the resistor goes right before or after the LED.

 

[jwarriner]

Are your signals winking with the LED as an indicator? I found that on my CB550 that with an LED indicator and small incandescent lights that the flasher is slow or doesn't want to activate.

 

[kelvis]

Are your signals winking with the LED as an indicator? I found that on my CB550 that with an LED indicator and small incandescent lights that the flasher is slow or doesn't want to activate.

Hey jdub, I'm running standard incandescent globes in the signals, haven't had a problem with slow flashing.

I had a similar problem to you with another bike and I found that changing the wattage of the globes helped to speed them up a bit.