Electronic flasher relays (LEDs)

[souperman]

I just installed some LED turn signals, and need to replace the OEM flasher unit. I have heard of people using relays that you can buy at the local auto parts store or even Walmart that might work. I just wanted a part number from something some has successfully used so I don't have to waste time trying stuff out.

No I am not interested in load resistors, that defeats part of the reason I went to LEDs...

 

[JRK5892]

not sure about that... but the resisters will stop hyper flash they have nothing to do wiht the reason to switch to led's (less pull on the charging system) the resisters insure that you do not burn out hte LEDS wiht too much power or get hyper flash.

the relay should be the standard 4 prong if i was to guess

 

[souperman]

From what I understand when you switch to LEDs they no longer pull the required current to work with most older blinkers. They have "load balancers" that are simply large wattage resistors that pull down close to the original amount of power that the incandescent bulbs did, which is not what I want if I'm trying to lower the overall load on the charging system. Anyone please correct me if I'm way off...

Anyways I read some place that some of the mechanical relays that you can get in auto stores maybe work with the small loads LEDs present.

 

[TDC]

You mean something like this?

http://www.customled.com/products/flasher_relay/flasher_relay.htm

orthis:

http://www.customdynamics.com/trick_flasher.htm

 

[rockcitycafe]

From what I understand when you switch to LEDs they no longer pull the required current to work with most older blinkers. They have "load balancers" that are simply large wattage resistors that pull down close to the original amount of power that the incandescent bulbs did, which is not what I want if I'm trying to lower the overall load on the charging system. Anyone please correct me if I'm way off...

Anyways I read some place that some of the mechanical relays that you can get in auto stores maybe work with the small loads LEDs present.

I think you'll need to do some research online, I haven't found flasher relays that work with leds at any auto store yet... the problem is that (I think) you'll need to wire the relay to a 12v source too, and I think the regular ones just go between the lights and ground. What you need is a self powered circuit that blinks a relay, what I did is build my own and stuff it into the relay can and seal it with a mass of hot glue

 

[moto fugazzi]

I purchased a Tridon el12 from autozone. It makes directionals flash at the same rate regardless of load. It also has 2 terminals instead of 3. It works well on my yamaha xs850.
See pics.

 

[souperman]

I picked up something from Napa that looks identical to that today. Unfortunately my signals still don't load it enough to start it flashing. I added a resistor from the output to my signal switch to ground and it worked ok. At this point I'm about ready to give up and either build or buy a totally solid state blinker.