LED blinker replacement

[bpt4w]

K after getting my 5th flat battery in a row (rainy days) i have gone on a bender and replaced almost every light with LED's , including all the blinkers and am looking for a guru in electronics who can tell me how to modify the blinker unit to remove the blown bulb function (thus making the led's flash at a proper rate) .

The LED blinkers are much brighter than the usual bulbs and really tell people you are going thata way and if you don't get out of the way i will melt you with my bright lights

I do have to say the led replacement was a success since i came out of my house the next morning to find the park lights still on and it started np after a full 16hrs of going.

[Mr Morlock]

Hella should be able to tell you- the problem of flash rate is well known with LED's though I have not personally fitted them. One of the Hella companies produces LED lamps so they are not just sourcing these from some 3rd party.If you did not buy Hella lights then maybe the co you bought them from should be giving you the info. In theory the light output is much the same but leds have a different appearance.Some cars are starting to use leds but it does add cost for no big advantage.
Your flat battery problem is still to be fixed- it will not be related to your lighting- most of us have standard lamps and have no problems.

[mx52nv]

Your flat battery problem is still to be fixed- it will not be related to your lighting- most of us have standard lamps and have no problems.

100% agreed here - please don't go replacing parts until you have found the current draw. Any auto electrician should be able to help.

[bensale]

The fact that you leave your parking lights on could explain your flat batteries. I did it once as they are quite difficult to spot, perhaps the fact that the flat batteries occur on rainy days could be due to the fact that you are more likey to use your parker in that weather. I conected a little buzzer to two fuses so that it never happens again.

[redwards]

Your flat battery problem is still to be fixed- it will not be related to your lighting- most of us have standard lamps and have no problems.

100% agreed here - please don't go replacing parts until you have found the current draw. Any auto electrician should be able to help.

By the sound of the original post the reason for the current draw is someone forgetting to turn the lights off.... LEDs would draw less current than incandescents and therefore not drain the battery overnight...

The hardest part is the indicators.
If you're still keen, it appears you need new or modified relays. Check out these links: http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=1558.
And this one: http://www.instructables.com/id/Automotive-electronic-flasher-rate-modification./.

In short: not for the faint hearted.
With the second approach, there's a distinct possibility that you could fry your electrics. Good for slowly changing the three sets of indicators on each side of the car.

[edit] ooh, and bensale jumps in with the 'let your lights on, eh?' call while I'm still typing,

[Garry]

Not that it's going to be much help to you but a lot of the motorbike guys replace their indicators with LED's. All you need to do is add a resistor to the circuit somewhere so that the flasher unit recognises a load when the LED's are illuminated. I'm not sure where you add the resistor (though I'm pretty sure it's external to the flasher unit) or what value you use though. Sorry.

[bruce]

Simple solution: do not use your parkers. Just use no lights or full headlights. Parkers are the most useless invention and I have no idea to what purpose they serve.

[Mr Morlock]

bruce surely you cannot be serious that you do not know and recognise the value of parkers? PS switching leaving lights on and running your battery flat is something most people do once and many cars send an audible warning when you remove the ignition key if parkers or headlamp remains lit.

[Okibi]

Simple solution: do not use your parkers. Just use no lights or full headlights. Parkers are the most useless invention and I have no idea to what purpose they serve.

I agree with this for every day driving, I can't remember when I last wanted to put just the parker lights on.

[bruce]

The value of parkers is zero. People cannot see them when they are switched on, so what is the point of having them on. Full lights or no lights. (I believe Parkers are called such because you switch them on when parking your car, not for driving around with).

(Seriously, how can you get 5 flat batteries in a row? You can push start an MX5 by yourself ya know. Instead of replacing your lights why don't you just install a buzzer to tell you when the lights are switch on?)

[Mr Morlock]

The value of "parkers"? The remark that they are of zero value and people cannot see them holds no water. Parkers are there for the very purpose of providing an opportunity to be seen. They are 5w's the same as turn signals and we can all see these. The parker can be switched on in poor day light conditions such as tree lined roads which simultaneously also puts your tail lights ( 5w) on- think of light fog or where you have no fog lights. It also avoids having to put on headlamps during the day under poor light or light rain when headlights do distract other drivers.
Stopped on the side of the road or parked in a narrow street the parker might save your car or someone running in to you. Leaving your headlights on or your hazards is not a sensible option for these conditions. I might add that 5w parkers in a modern large headlamp provides a surprising amount of visible light.
I often drive with parkers on, or fog lamps as a low, sports car is not easy to see on tree lined country roads though fog lamps may draw attention from the constabulary.

[bpt4w]

jeez didn't know i had shot a kennedy from the grassy knole with this one

k i got the front indicator vent lights (replaces your indicator/parker with one light with a vent) and installed the led light replacement into it after getting flat batteries (got the sh*ts and did the lot) , i have found these to be much brighter (can almost drive at night with them) and have never had a flat battery from parkers being left on again (need to use them up here due to crappy country drivers not seeing you in there jacked up 4wd during bad light conditions).

the blinkers are a afterthought when buying the clear side reflectors with the indicators in them i hooked them up (they are only 5w) and the old 15w bulbs spot was replaced by the indicator vents (was going to get some rear twin elements set up for them but changed my mind) so now i am looking to modify my current mazda electronic flasher to remove the blown bulb feature , thats all , nothing dramatic and yes they are very bright so now they are very obviously flashing in the clear lense.

by the way the buzzer is a good idea , maybe will hook it up to the ignition circuit to activate if lights are on but engine off.

[Fatty]

Jaycar headlight reminder kit

[redwards]

I've considered LED light replacement - one of many things I'm considering with my 5. bpt4w: how much did all the lights cost you?


[Thread hijack! ] In defence of parkers: I disagree with the argument that parkers are useless - but that's because I have an NA. In any other car I drive in, it's full headlights or nothing. But the NA eyes pop up - that interferes with air flow, blocks your view a bit (albeit not much) and I like the look of the car with parkers on. Headlights are only on when I need to see where I'm going.

[bpt4w]

the lights all up cost $50 that includes the dash lights