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LED's for blinkers

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Old Oct 2, 2001 | 10:29 PM
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LED's for blinkers

I bought a pair of amber LED's for my front blinkers so I could keep the all clear look but cars I'm passing can see my blinkers better. When I put them in, they blink too fast to light up, they just flicker really faint and really fast. Can I slow down my blinkers so I can see them or do I have to stick with normal bulbs?
Old Oct 2, 2001 | 10:38 PM
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Re: LED's for blinkers

i have red LEDs for my rear and my blinkers blink fast as well.. I don't know if there is a solution to this problem.
If you find one let me know too.
Old Oct 2, 2001 | 10:44 PM
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there is a relay to delay the speed

it's like $7 bucks or so. I'll repost with more info.
Old Oct 2, 2001 | 11:04 PM
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id like more info on these bulbs. i was thinkin about puttin them in my rear blinkers...
Old Oct 3, 2001 | 07:38 PM
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I also have LED's, but mine are in my tail lights. Mine also blink very quickly, but I have gotten used to it.
Old Oct 3, 2001 | 10:30 PM
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how quickly? i guess it doesnt really matter since you never have to look at your own lights...
Old Oct 3, 2001 | 10:53 PM
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Too fast!

It blinks too fast to light up fully. You can't even tell its blinking unless you look really hard.

Originally posted by black019
how quickly? i guess it doesnt really matter since you never have to look at your own lights...
Old Oct 3, 2001 | 11:37 PM
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Man

I can't find the link. I was going to replace my bulbs with LED's but decided not to cuz I didn't want to spend $10/bulb. I thought it'd be cool so the lense would look clear when not activate and still give off a orange glow when I signal. Instead I paint transparent silver on my amber bulbs...works like a charm.

Anyways, I found the device on a site when I was looking for LED's for a low price. Since then, I've been repeating my searches and I've come up with nothing. I think I was typing in "amber 1156 LED" on google.com
Old Oct 4, 2001 | 10:37 AM
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Try doing a search on the org.
I remember reading another post about this not too long ago.
As I recall, one answer was to put a resitor in the line b4 the LEDs.
But don't go doing this just cause of my post.
Find the "real" answer...
Old Oct 4, 2001 | 10:44 AM
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well the LEDs are too efficient. it requires a certain "load" on the flasher in order for the flasher to flash at a normal pace. its like when one bulb burns out the other one flashes really fast, same theory. you need to create a load on the flasher for it to flash correctly. you can try running a 1157 bulb somewhere along the power wire but not put it in the lense..that's the easiest way i can think of to create a load. there's others items you can put to create a dummy load on the wire...but that starts to get technical.
Old Oct 4, 2001 | 10:53 AM
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Load

I understand why the LED blinker does what is does, but I don't want to put another bulb in just for the sake of creating a load. What else can I use to create a load?

Originally posted by DanNY
well the LEDs are too efficient. it requires a certain "load" on the flasher in order for the flasher to flash at a normal pace. its like when one bulb burns out the other one flashes really fast, same theory. you need to create a load on the flasher for it to flash correctly. you can try running a 1157 bulb somewhere along the power wire but not put it in the lense..that's the easiest way i can think of to create a load. there's others items you can put to create a dummy load on the wire...but that starts to get technical.
Old Oct 4, 2001 | 10:59 AM
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Re: Load

Originally posted by hrmax
I understand why the LED blinker does what is does, but I don't want to put another bulb in just for the sake of creating a load. What else can I use to create a load?

That's what a resitor is/does.
It "resists" the load, kind of like bending a water hose.
It would work just like the lightbulb.
I don't know what resitor you should use though - they come in a wide array of "values".
They are quite small and would be fairly easy to add.
I thought the lightbulb idea was a good one however, becuase it would provide the right load.
Lightbulb or resitor though, I think you'd probably end up with less total output - the signal would not be as bright.
But I am not the electrical expert...
Old Oct 4, 2001 | 02:10 PM
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Re: Re: Load

Originally posted by fast97maxse


That's what a resitor is/does.
It "resists" the load, kind of like bending a water hose.
It would work just like the lightbulb.
I don't know what resitor you should use though - they come in a wide array of "values".
They are quite small and would be fairly easy to add.
I thought the lightbulb idea was a good one however, becuase it would provide the right load.
Lightbulb or resitor though, I think you'd probably end up with less total output - the signal would not be as bright.
But I am not the electrical expert...
hmmm..i though the resistor (in this app) decrease the light out put to a bulb. it's lowers the power. but it does nothing to the flasher itself...it'll prob make the bulb even dimmer.
Old Oct 4, 2001 | 02:18 PM
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Hey, what do I know?
Like I said earlier, I think there was another post about this that suggested using a resistor.
I don't have the time to do a search right now.
And yeah, I think it might make the LED dimmer, but maybe not.
Maybe if the resistor has the right value it would put enough load on the circuit to slow the flashing down without dimming the output.
There must be some people on the org with electronics know-how...
Old Oct 5, 2001 | 06:54 AM
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Originally posted by fast97maxse
Hey, what do I know?
Like I said earlier, I think there was another post about this that suggested using a resistor.
I don't have the time to do a search right now.
And yeah, I think it might make the LED dimmer, but maybe not.
Maybe if the resistor has the right value it would put enough load on the circuit to slow the flashing down without dimming the output.
There must be some people on the org with electronics know-how...
well the resistor is needed so it doesn't burn out the LED itself. normally LEDs can take about 3-4v (some are less). on a car that's running 12-14V it would burn out that LED extremely quick...you'll need a resistor to lower the voltage to an acceptable level for the LED. but having one flash is another issue. like i said...you need a dummy load to have the flasher work. people on the org w/ electronic know how?...i'm answering your questions..you don't seem to want to accept it.
Old Oct 5, 2001 | 08:26 AM
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Originally posted by DanNY


well the resistor is needed so it doesn't burn out the LED itself. normally LEDs can take about 3-4v (some are less). on a car that's running 12-14V it would burn out that LED extremely quick...you'll need a resistor to lower the voltage to an acceptable level for the LED. but having one flash is another issue. like i said...you need a dummy load to have the flasher work. people on the org w/ electronic know how?...i'm answering your questions..you don't seem to want to accept it.
Didn't mean to dis you bro.
Just giving my one cents worth.
And it wasn't even my question...
I just figured if the guy didn't want to put a bulb in the line, that a resistor would do the job.
Seems odd though, if everybody reports a faster blinking rate, you'd think the LED "bulbs" would come with a resistor built in so they would work "correctly". Or are you saying that the LEDs already have a resitor? Then you'd think they'd do something else to make them flash at the normal rate...
whatever.
Old Oct 5, 2001 | 10:42 AM
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anyone have pics of the Led turn signals?
Old Oct 5, 2001 | 12:01 PM
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Originally posted by fast97maxse


Didn't mean to dis you bro.
Just giving my one cents worth.
And it wasn't even my question...
I just figured if the guy didn't want to put a bulb in the line, that a resistor would do the job.
Seems odd though, if everybody reports a faster blinking rate, you'd think the LED "bulbs" would come with a resistor built in so they would work "correctly". Or are you saying that the LEDs already have a resitor? Then you'd think they'd do something else to make them flash at the normal rate...
whatever.
hmmm...it's all good man. just puzzling for all i guess. i don't think the LED companies really though about blinking rates and etc. who knows.
Old Oct 5, 2001 | 12:03 PM
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Originally posted by DanNY


hmmm...it's all good man. just puzzling for all i guess. i don't think the LED companies really though about blinking rates and etc. who knows.
They are just trying to make a buck I'm sure. So putting another bulb in looks like the best idea?
Old Oct 5, 2001 | 12:12 PM
  #20  
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Originally posted by hrmax


They are just trying to make a buck I'm sure. So putting another bulb in looks like the best idea?
Give it a try.
Get some crimp-on connectors from radio shack
and a wire stripper/crimping tool [cheaper at home depot].

Or, better yet, just cut the wires, strip em a little and hold the wires/bulb together with your hands and see how it goes.
If it works, wire it in permenently.
If it doesn't, just use the crimp connecters to put it back.

Good luck and let us know how it goes...
Old Oct 5, 2001 | 12:19 PM
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Will do

Originally posted by fast97maxse


Give it a try.
Get some crimp-on connectors from radio shack
and a wire stripper/crimping tool [cheaper at home depot].

Or, better yet, just cut the wires, strip em a little and hold the wires/bulb together with your hands and see how it goes.
If it works, wire it in permenently.
If it doesn't, just use the crimp connecters to put it back.

Good luck and let us know how it goes...
I will give it a try this weekend and let you know how it goes. Thanks for your help.
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