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Single wire vs dul wire indicator

Started by Howley, September 14, 2011, 05:41:25 AM

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Howley

September 14, 2011, 05:41:25 AM
So what's the difference between single wire and dual wire indicators (turn signals)? My bike currently has dual wires, can I make single wire ones work?

corey

#1
September 14, 2011, 10:42:02 AM
???
there has to be two wires... positive and negative...
a "single wire" indicator likely has two wires wrapped together that split at a plug of some type.
When all the land lays in ruin... And burnination has forsaken the countryside... Only one guy will remain... My money's on...

Howley

#2
September 16, 2011, 05:15:04 AM
Nope they definitely exist. I think they might ground through the mount.

ducpainter

#3
September 17, 2011, 03:57:13 AM
Quote from: Howley on September 16, 2011, 05:15:04 AM
Nope they definitely exist. I think they might ground through the mount.
exactly...

You might get front single wire units to work, but in the rear there's no metal where they mount.
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Howley

#4
September 17, 2011, 06:04:18 AM
Could you run a ground from the body of the indicator to the ground for a two wire setup?

ducpainter

#5
September 17, 2011, 06:11:06 AM
Quote from: Howley on September 17, 2011, 06:04:18 AM
Could you run a ground from the body of the indicator to the ground for a two wire setup?
absolutely...

you'd just need the right size ring terminal to fit the mount stud.
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Howley

#6
September 17, 2011, 04:00:58 PM
Ah! A ring terminal is a great idea!

ducpainter

#7
September 17, 2011, 04:09:41 PM
Quote from: Howley on September 17, 2011, 04:00:58 PM
Ah! A ring terminal is a great idea!
That's why I get the big bucks. ;D
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


errazor

#8
September 18, 2011, 02:45:50 PM
If the single wire turn signal is a LED light you must confirm to Carbon 14`s post.
If it is a incandescent bulb it does not know the difference between + &- and you can rely on DP`s post.
76 SUZUKI GT 100,  88 YAMAHA TDR 250,  07 DUCATI S2R 1000.

Howley

#9
September 18, 2011, 03:09:47 PM
Thanks for the heads up guys, I'll check that out.

Howley

#10
September 19, 2011, 05:36:15 AM
Rad, thanks for doing that. A plan is formulating... :P

ducpainter

#11
September 19, 2011, 06:15:51 PM
Quote from: Carbon 14 on September 18, 2011, 08:08:41 PM
Not true.  If you had a switched ground neither would work.  With a switched positive either would work.  It is true with LED's the polarity has to be correct.

Good news:  I checked both of my bikes and they both have a switched positive and common grounding.  If your bike is the same you can use a single-wire light with a frame ground.

I wasn't blowing smoke when I said it would work.
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Howie

#12
September 19, 2011, 08:52:02 PM
Quote from: Carbon 14 on September 18, 2011, 08:08:41 PM
Not true.  If you had a switched ground neither would work.  With a switched positive either would work.  It is true with LED's the polarity has to be correct.

Good news:  I checked both of my bikes and they both have a switched positive and common grounding.  If your bike is the same you can use a single-wire light with a frame ground.

A switch can be on the positive on negative side of an incandescent bulb.  As long as the circuit is complete when the switch is closed the bulb will light.

Howie

#13
September 20, 2011, 06:02:34 AM
Quote from: Carbon 14 on September 19, 2011, 10:01:39 PM
Absolutely true but if the ground is the switched side and you go to a frame ground the light would be on all the time.  Incandescent or LED no difference.

Anyhoo like I said I checked both of my bikes and they are both positive-switched.  OP should check before purchasing though.

If you mean mounted directly to the frame with no ground wire, yes.

errazor

#14
September 21, 2011, 08:30:10 AM
The point is that if you have a LED light it is important that + &- is correct.
A bulb will light anyway a LED only if the polarity is correct.
76 SUZUKI GT 100,  88 YAMAHA TDR 250,  07 DUCATI S2R 1000.
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