Indicator is flashing too fast

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:06 pm

So after doing this: viewtopic.php?f=57&t=45242&start=300#p676556, And despite the fact that all bulbs are working, the side that I modified is flashing faster than the side I didn't (which indicates that a bulb is blown)

My question then comes in two parts. First, what part of the circuit determines whether the bulb is blown or not (I thought it was just a continuity thing), second, is it possible to modify the circuit to override this?

wassup · Postby **wassup** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:42 pm

This is a similar problem that those who use LED indicators face, the dreaded hyper blink.

Its not exactly continuity based, but rather load. In the case of using LED indicators the load generated by the efficient LED on the circuit is confused for a blown bulb.

Look up LED load resistor. This will likely solve your problem.

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 2:52 pm

Thanks.

SO after some rapid googling action (sounds sus, I know), I found these links:

Good schematic and explanation: http://www.matstrad.com/resistors_tech.php

Good DIY for making a load resistor: http://www.matstrad.com/resistors_tech.php
(although I want to find a better solution than electrical tape, as the resistors get quite warm when loaded, and could melt the tape)

wassup · Postby **wassup** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 3:48 pm

youre welcome.

Google again and refer to google images. There are solutions out there that include the Blue wire spice's. These will be sufficient for your needs.. most places that sell these sell them as a kit. Just take note that not all places sell the kit in pairs. Once you have them its a 1 minute job and your done. Ive been using these for my rear indicators (on the Civic) for 4 years now and has worked flawlessly.

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 3:52 pm

So in terms of the power needed would I just make up the difference (21W is now 5W, so I would need a 15W resistor?)

Blue things, you mean the blue things here??

wassup · Postby **wassup** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:32 pm

You should'nt need to buy a specific load resistor to solve your problem as the hyper flash occurs when the load falls below a certain limit. having said this, youre best to send that query to one of the sites that youd consider buying from as youre now testing the limits of my knowledge.

The image below is how it looks on my Civic, although you cant see the load resistor its pretty much identical to your picture
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/img0067ur2.jpg/

vrmmmpshhh · Postby **vrmmmpshhh** » Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:38 pm

If its for an NA do the DIY flasher mod its easy to do and works.

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:31 am

So I'm looking at the resistors. Went into Jaycar, and they didnt have anything, so have had to go to ebay. I have found a couple, both 15w ceramic resistors, one has a resistance of 12M ohm, the other is 5.5ohm. What is the difference here?

Zcootz · Postby **Zcootz** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:06 am

Super cheap have the led load resistors for a couple of bucks

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:42 am

but they are 25W, which I think is too much? There is only a 15w difference in the bulbs, and having a 25w one would be too much resistance??

Caffeine · Postby **Caffeine** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:12 pm

mitch_f1 wrote:but they are 25W, which I think is too much? There is only a 15w difference in the bulbs, and having a 25w one would be too much resistance??

The resistance is independent of the watt rating. The watt rating determines how much power the resistor can safely dissipate. More W rating = better (generally)

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:15 pm

So you are saying that a 25W resistor will deliver the required resistance to tell the car that there is a working bulb in the socket, while not affecting the brightness of the bulb?