Can't find 12 V 21 Watt "Small Globe" bulb.

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gtsun

I have a set of the typical aftermarket small turn signals and they came with 12volt (23) Watt bulbs. I had trouble getting them to work about a year ago when I was playing around with them & I could be wrong but I'm thinking the (23) wattage may be why they didn't work right. Our stock bulbs are (21) watts but won't fit in the small body of the new signals. I thought it would be easy to find single filiment 12 volt 21 watt small bulbs but I have gone everywhere from my favorite industrial electronics supplier, all local Auto parts stores, local Brit bike guy's and I've Googled them & looked on line as much as I can stand but I can't find them anywhere!! Is the 21 watt thing common in England ??? It's sure not here. Does anyone know who sells these in clear or orange? I can't even determine the correct # for them. Please help.thanks.
 
Thanks LAB but I don't understand what you mean. If there is another flasher unit I can use that will work with the 23 Watt bulbs please explain to me how to choose the correct one. I don't get it??
 
gtsun said:
If there is another flasher unit I can use that will work with the 23 Watt bulbs please explain to me how to choose the correct one. I don't get it??
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Change the original 12V 2 pin 2x 21W flasher relay for a 12V 2 pin 2x 23W flasher relay.

Modern electronic flasher relays are not usually affected by bulb wattage as the old electro-mechanical types are. [Edit] And the electronic relays are also less sensitive to minor changes in voltage so they tend to flash more reliably.
 
Pvisseriii that link just goes to NAPA's home page. Can you somehow tell / show me what flasher unit to buy? Thanks so much.
 
gtsun said:
Pvisseriii that link just goes to NAPA's home page. Can you somehow tell / show me what flasher unit to buy? Thanks so much.
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The link takes me to the following item:
Can't find 12 V 21 Watt "Small Globe" bulb.

Number: NF 552LL
Product Line: NAPA Flashers
Attributes:
# Flasher Terminals : 2
Features and Benefits:
Passenger Cars/Light Trucks Long Life 552
Electro-Mechanical Flasher
1 to 6 Lamps
200 Hours
12 Volts, 150W
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Hi

RS look like they have a few, even some amber coloured ones

[http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/lighting/incandescent-light-bulbs/automotive-incandescent-lamps/?sort-by=default&sort-order=default&applied-dimensions=4294884937,4294873380,4294747478,4294820258&lastAttributeSelectedBlock=4294955776]

Allied Electronics in the US are part of the same group so you should be able to order through them using the RS part number
 
I suggest you check your wire connectors first, as these have a habit of corroding over time, they can be cleaned up. Also check input & output voltage from flasher unit.
 
There would be no difference in working or not working between a 21W bulb and a 23W bulb. There is something else going on.
 
batrider said:
There would be no difference in working or not working between a 21W bulb and a 23W bulb.
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I disagree, as the older electro-mechanical flasher units usually rely on current to trigger them, so bulb wattage does make a difference to flash rate and is why flasher units are often marked with the bulb watt ratings that it is suitable for.

http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/flashers.htm
 
I think your correct LAB, the 23 watt bulbs make the older bi-metal type flashers go crazy. People think the light is staying on but realy the flashers metal strip is heating & cooling to fast or not at all so it looks that way.
 
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