Help! Emgo LED indicators for 01 S4 don't blink

[Flipper]

Hi all,

In a flash (please excuse the pun) of inspiration I installed some LED indicators all round on my 01 S4 - of course, I didn't think about resistance loads or even looking at the internet before hand.  Now I have a bike with indicators that come on but don't blink. 

I understand that LED specific relays are available but what one should I use? And an even more stupid question - where does it go? I'm not all that familiar with 'lectric bits - I think I've found it on the LHS just under the fuel tank but there are three relays (at least I think they are relays) there???.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

Cheers,

Flip.

[Speeddog]

The blinker relay is inside the instrument cluster, so it's not really replaceable.

Resistors are the way to go.

Be careful where you mount them, they get *very* hot.

[Flipper]

The blinker relay is inside the instrument cluster, so it's not really replaceable.  Ok, I shouldn't be too surprised there, it never is that easy!

Resistors are the way to go. From what I understand, just one per side (Left and Right) will do the job? 

Be careful where you mount them, they get *very* hot. Thanks for the tip, is there any particular load (?) rating I should look for? 

[eyduc]

The ones from Monster parts looks to be one per "bulb" and it is made to just plug in without any mods.   They sell it as a pair.   If you are doing both front and back, you will need 2 pairs.   If it is made to be a LED resistor load, then the power rating should be correct.   If you were talking resistance, I measured one turn signal bulb and it was about 3 ohms.   

[Mojo S2R]

One set should actually be plenty.  You can put the set either on the front or the back.  The back would probably be the best choice since you will have more space to put them out of the way.  That is, if you put LEDs all around.  If you put them only on the front or the back then you may have to put the resistors there.

[Flipper]

Thanks all - purchased 2 x pairs from eBay (only $16 pair).   

Will start with one pair and work up from there - hopefully 1 pair will do the trick!

Will try and get a pic up of the install when I'm done.

Flip

[JEFF_H]

Usually one pair is all you need.

[eyduc]

A big sorry for that misleading info!  The one ballast must be big enough to simulate two bulbs then.

[Flipper]

Success!  Thanks to all on here who helped out... only took one ballast per circuit.  

Had to lose the tool bag box lid (just in case it contacted the wires) but otherwise not too tricky...  

One of the indicators unfortunately already has moisture (maybe steer clear from Emgo) from washing the bike yesterday (sigh) but they're on, working properly and that'll do for now!

[Jarvicious]

Maybe someone else can chime in, but is adding heat to the voltage regulator a good idea?

[eyduc]

Heat management is a big technical subject.  But yes those small resistors are adding heat.  It has its own heatsinks.  So it may manage it's own heat to a tolerable level.  Now if that tolerable or designed heat level (max temp) is the same or below the max temp of the regulator, it won't add heat.  For example, if two objects touching (assuming max heat transfer) are at the same temp (ie 200F), there won't be any heat conduction or transfer.  It will just stay at 200F.  There is only heat transfer if one objects temp is greater than the other.  The two or three in this case will settle at some average temp, hopefully below critical levels.

[Flipper]

Pretty much along the lines of what I went with.  Unfortunately, it was the lesser of two evils - trying to wire up or otherwise attach a aluminium plate (with heatsinks attached) perpendicular to the frame and risk contacting the plastic underneath or try the edge of the voltage regulator. 

I went with the voltage reg in the end, as running the 'sinks for about a minute or does make them too hot to touch, but only moderately so.  It isn't as if they are glowing white hot (thankfully).   

My bike is well and truly out of warranty but I wouldn't recommend this to a newer bike (just in case).