LED turn signals

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Now I understand what the wattage rating is. How many watts will be going through the LED circuit?
 
Laws, safety? We are talking about riding motorcycles, correct? As I said before, Left arm outstretched, louie. left over head, right turn. And you can't forget to cancel it.
 
TJKII said:
Laws, safety? We are talking about riding motorcycles, correct? As I said before, Left arm outstretched, louie. left over head, right turn. And you can't forget to cancel it.
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Works great in the dark, eh?
 
Turns signals are over rated.
Regardless of you or others signals, you better not be turning
if in doubt you are seen or where someone else going to be aiming.
About like brake lights, nice to have em but just seeing
that you are approaching a slower of stopped craft should
be enough.

Small LEDs on back of gloves would give attention to your intention.
I also drilled back of helmet to accept a Moody Blue theater
blinker. Just tiny sparkles but plenty to catch the eye.

Weaving a bit like you are clumsy rider gets more attention
and fear space than signals.
Getting on a motorcycle is risky life business no matter what.

No signals hurt in this Trixie photo
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1287210 ... 1179qaXmIN
LED turn signals



hobot
 
pelican said:
What kind of housing are you going to put them in?
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The LED test you saw was for the light in the headlight that tells you it's flashing.

The turn signals have their own housings.
 
swooshdave said:
Now I understand what the wattage rating is. How many watts will be going through the LED circuit?
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In the case of a resistor, the power that it dissipates goes up as heat.

P = Amps X Voltage.

13 volts / 500 ohms = .026 amp.
.026 X 13 = 0.338 watts.

Of course the blinkers are not on continuously, so at 50% duty cycle a 1/4 watt will probably survive.

I will note that when I put amber blinkers into my Lucas signal lamp assemblies I noticed that they are not as bright as the factory 21 watt bulbs. I elected to use them only in the front and leave the rears alone. I want some visibility there in traffic during the daytime.
 
maylar said:
swooshdave said:
Now I understand what the wattage rating is. How many watts will be going through the LED circuit?
Click to expand...

In the case of a resistor, the power that it dissipates goes up as heat.

P = Amps X Voltage.

13 volts / 500 ohms = .026 amp.
.026 X 13 = 0.338 watts.

Of course the blinkers are not on continuously, so at 50% duty cycle a 1/4 watt will probably survive.

I will note that when I put amber blinkers into my Lucas signal lamp assemblies I noticed that they are not as bright as the factory 21 watt bulbs. I elected to use them only in the front and leave the rears alone. I want some visibility there in traffic during the daytime.
Click to expand...

Thank you. So if I wrap the resistors up in heat shrink it would be a bad thing? Just how hot are these things going to get?
 
A 1/4 watter would get too warm especially with the heatshrink. I usually calculate the wattage and then double that or more when picking the resistor. The resistors only cost pennies - A 1 watt metal oxide resistor is 13 cents at Mouser. (Plus probably $4.95 shipping!

Russ
 
batrider said:
A 1/4 watter would get too warm especially with the heatshrink. I usually calculate the wattage and then double that or more when picking the resistor. The resistors only cost pennies - A 1 watt metal oxide resistor is 13 cents at Mouser. (Plus probably $4.95 shipping!

Russ
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That's what I was suspecting. I had some 1/4w sitting around but I'll get some higher rated ones. Thanks!
 
Just as a test I tried to use an LED as a diode. Didn't work.

I need to look through my stuff to see if I have some real diodes.
 
More success. Managed to get the indicator working. Two diodes and a lot of heat shrink tubing.
 
LED turn signals


This before I covered it all up. Yellow pigtails go to the turnsignals, Molex goes to wiring harness and flasher and I attached another wire to the two diode ends that go to the indicator light the only problem is that indicator light doesn't have a ground, yet.
 
I can't say for a fact but I bet you can take a 2 prong electronic (-) earth flasher and just flip the connections and it will work on a (+) earth system. I also think if you take a 3 prong (+) earth flasher you can use the third prong to run you instrument panel bulb without diodes.
 
Deets55 said:
I can't say for a fact but I bet you can take a 2 prong electronic (-) earth flasher and just flip the connections and it will work on a (+) earth system. I also think if you take a 3 prong (+) earth flasher you can use the third prong to run you instrument panel bulb without diodes.
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I think you're right about the three prong flashers. I'll try that on the next bike.
 
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