Ducati Monster Forum

i went to install LED turn signals for the front and rear yesterday (brake light is still stock), and after installation i found that either side would flash only once, and then nothing at all.  also the other side would have a "bleed-over" flash as well (not sure what the tech. term for that is).  so after putting the stock blinkers back on in the front (LED still in the rear) they're now blinking, just at a very high rate (which is what i thought would happen with LEDs all around)

my question is what is the resistor i need to pick up?  i'm thinking that radioshack or autozone might carry it...couldn't find which one i need to look for though.

also, if anyone has pics of how their resistors are wired up, that would be mucho appreciated; this will be the first time to use inline resistors for me.

No first hand experience, but the load resistors that came with my Rizoma LED signals are ceramic type 3/8" square and 2" long.  They're shrink wrapped, so I can't see any markings, but my multimeter shows them as 10 ohms.  The pictoral instructions show to use two in series if required.

BK

In series or parallel?

I have no first hand knowledge using leds in motorcycles, but I thought it would be in parallel and a resistor similar in wattage to the bulb, something like:

http://sites.google.com/site/mittelstadtc/Home/file1/ledversusincandescent.pdf?attredirects=0 (http://sites.google.com/site/mittelstadtc/Home/file1/ledversusincandescent.pdf?attredirects=0)


mitt

i'm guessing parallel??  i've never done it before, so i'm not sure honestly.

I think you are absolutely correct and I misused the term in an electrical hookup sense.  What I meant to imply was that the Rizoma package includes multiple resistors and the instructions show to use as many as needed to achieve correct blinking.  I did not need to use any resistors, presumably because I still have bulbs at one end.  Your linked diagram is a winner.

BK

I have a new never used spare set of resistors lying around.  I used the same set on my m900 for led blinkers.  If you're interested let me know.   

I made the diagram last time this LED question came up. I work with power resistors often, so I am familiar sizing them, but have not done it for motorcycle. 

The problem with the really cheap little resistors, is that they won't draw enough power to look like an incandescent bulb.  And, if you size them to draw enough power, they will burn up, because they are only rated 1/4 or 1/2 watt.  You need a resistor similar in power rating as a standard bulb, probably about 10 to 25watt.  This puts you into a higher class of resistors, power resistors, that are more expensive, but not too bad ($5 each).

mitt

The shrinkwrapped ceramic ones provided by Rizoma measure 10ohm and on the instruction picture show 10W.  They are about 2" long and 3/8" sqaure.

I've seen others, like the one in your diagram, that appear to be metal or at least metal encased, and possibly smaller.  Are these better or more robust than the ceramic type?

BK

I have 10W/10ohm on mine. In parallel, one for the left, one for the right. $1.95 a pair at Radio Shack.

For what this application requires, the cheaper the better - so ceramic would win.  The aluminum case ones are better, but probably overkill.  I didn't know if a 10W resistor would be sufficient for this application or not.  I figured it would, because the rating on the resistor is continuous, and the turn signal application is cyclical, so you could probably apply 2 times the rated wattage on and off.

mitt

i'll check out the radioshack tomorrow after work....thanks for all the info.  also, don't suppose you have any pics of what your setup looks like?  i'm guessing this will be pretty straightforward, but i've thought that about many things with the bike only to prove myself wrong...  :-\

okay..maybe this is overkill, but i thought i would just verify that i'm on the right track here before i go trying to hook things up on my bike and potentially do something incorrectly.  are the parts below what i'm looking for, and second, is it as simple as just taking one end of one resistor, and that goes to the wire from the bike, and the other end goes to the blinker?

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3310814366_b5617d9bc6_b.jpg)
back of resistor package:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3310819718_d3871481f5.jpg)

Those look like they will work.

Did you look at the diagram I linked above?  You described installing it in series which is wrong.

You need it in parallel with the new led bulb.  So, there are 2 wires going from the bike to the signal.  You want to hook 1 end of the resistor to 1 wire, and the other end of the resistor to the other wire.


(http://sites.google.com/site/mittelstadtc/Home/file2/image_146.jpg?attredirects=0)

mitt

thanks mitt.  took another look at the diagram with a friend that had some idea of what he was doing, and wired these up correctly last night in parallel.  got everything connected and used the 10 ohm 10 watt resistors, LEDs front and back, and they're blinking at the right rate.  just wish one of the LEDs didn't have 4/8 led bulbs out....

Can you swap the cluster with another and see if the same bulbs go out?  Seems odd that one cluster would have half not working.  LEDS are pretty reliable.

mitt

Where they out from the git go ar did they quit after the addition of the resistor?

they were done from the git-go, before messing with resistors.

Still seems odd to have 4 in a row "bad".  I would bet they are configured in an array way with 2 rows of 4 or something, and for some reason, 1 row is not getting power.  Or, it could be that 1 bulb in the row is in backwards (LED's only turn on with current in 1 direction, in otherwords they are sensitive to +/- polarity) and not powering the others up. 

Take a pic of the led array, and especially the board if you can get to it.

hmm...yeah i'm pretty sure it's an entire row of 4 LEDs... i hadn't popped the cover off though to mess with it since i didn't know what i was doing.  i might try doing that though.  i'll post up pics if i can get to it this weekend (no garage...   :( )

Can you make it still more simple?

I added LED turn signals to the rear of my 1999 Monster M900. OEM Front signals. The flashers were fast. I left it that way until I can add the front ones.

Now, its not working at all. I am about to buy some Resistors.

I read on another post that I just have to do one set, front or back. So I will install the resistors under the seat.

1. How many will I need?
2. If it is ONE resistor per side. is the installation like this???
 || Black Bike Wire |to| Resistor wire 1 | Resistor wire |to| Black wire on LED|| for one Blinker...

Is this what you meant by <You want to hook 1 end of the resistor to 1 wire, and the other end of the resistor to the other wire.>

Thanks

You could forget all the hassle of heat-generating / power-robbing resistors and just install a blinker that works with LEDS.

I've been able to get one for all my bikes swapped to LED turns that works correctly and is a direct pin-match from the selection at www.superbrightleds.com (http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fflashers.htm) (click the link to go directly to the LED-compatible flasher spec page on that site).

Thanks. As soon as I posted the last request, I was able to find other posts about switching the Blinkers relays. And I did stumpble upon the exact link you left.

I'll take a look tomorrow and see I need. I may try the local O'Reily's first before ordering.

I had a similar problem. Solution: install an electric flasher bought at Pep Boys Auto. I then cut and capped the wire leading to the dash signal indicator light. Fast/weird blink solved.

I have an LED specific relay flasher if anyone needs it ($10).  I gave up on the LED's and resistors.  Those little bastards get super hot when in use.

Now what? I ordered the correct fit flasher CF13GL-02 LED Bulb Electronic Flasher (http://CF13GL-02 LED Bulb Electronic Flasher) but now it has turned my lights into Emergency Flashers.

When I enable the Left or Right, all four lights flash. Its a nice regular steady blink, but its all four.

Any thoughts???

Should I just go with resistors?

Thanks

Looking at the wiring diagram for the '99 M900 and the schematic for the CF13GL-02 flasher, I agree that is the correct flasher assuming your wiring is all as original.

Memper's post where he says he cut the wires to the dash indicator is the tip ....

Your monster uses a single indicator on the dash for both left and right turn. That incandescent bulb 'bridges' the left/right circuits between the turn signal switch and the turn signals themselves and is likely the source of 'bleed' that causes all to flash when power is applied to either side.  if you pull the indicator bulb out of the instrument panel and it all works, there's your problem (you can't just disconnect the entire panel for the test because the 12v feed for the flashers comes through there).

You could either do what Memper did and eliminate the dash indicator (just leaving the bulb out would be cleaner and more reversable than cutting the wires) or you could maybe come up with a combination of diodes (one-way valves) in the indicator circuit that would let it all work together (I'd have to think a lot harder about that).

Bikes with separate left-right indicators on the dash don't have this issue  ;)

A diode on each side to the flasher will do it.

Umm, maybe, but the flasher interrupts the single 12v feed to the switch and the 'bridging' indicator lamp is between the individual 12v feeds to the L/R signals after (or maybe "at", depending on exaclty how the harness is constructed) the switch, so I'm a bit doubtful that'll fix the '4-way flash syndrome'.

Maybe I'm not understanding exactly where you mean to insert the diodes.

I'd like to be wrong on that since your suggestion would be relatively easy ... have you done it?

I should have asked c1fer if his dash indicator is working at all when the 4-way flash occurs?  The LED's themselves may prevent completion of that circuit (the 'unactivated' turn signal acts as the ground side for the indicator in the OEM setup, through the turn signal bulb filament; with LEDs that circuit may not be able to complete; if both LT bulbs are pulled/blown in the OEM setup, the dash indicator won't light even when the surviving RT signals blink)

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2136/2548076158_1f0831c776.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/23081877@N02/2548076158/)

Doh!  I meant to the indicator.   DMFerFKPs diagram is correct.

That'll do it fer sure  [thumbsup]

What do you think, these 1N4003 from Radio Shack at $1.19 for a 2-pack (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036269&filterName=Type&filterValue=Diodes)?

Man!!

Thanks guys. I did read about the indicator light on the panel, but for some reason I thought this was for a newer bike, like a 00 or 01.

Ok so I think I will pull the bulb out and see if that works. That is the simplest way. And I don't even pay attention to that indicator light anyways. I like looking at my new LED blinkers and can tell when they are on.

I'll let you know.

Thanks again

UPDATE:

I still have not taken out the Dashboard.

1. When I use the turn signal, all 4 blink. They blink in a nice even and regular pattern. Not super fast
2. The Turn signal light in the Dashboard DOES NOT blink.

I plan to take the Dashboard out and disable the Turn Indicator wire as suggested
Whats the best way? Do I have to take the whole assembly out> Or does the top pop off easily? Like if I needed to change a bulb.

I still have the windscreen on so I guess I'll have to take that all apart.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

The resistors Oberon sends with its indicators are 25W 6.8ohm

I am revisiting this issue...  Can you tell me what wire leads to the Dash Indicator Light? Also, is there proper way to remove the Dash Panel? I still have the factory windscreen on the bike.

To recap:  I ordered an LED Blinker switch and installed it along with 4 LED blinkers. When I operate the signals, all 4 blink nice and steady like hazard lights.

Thanks