The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Need an LED expert - turn signals/flashers goofy

See video here:

http://s843.photobucket.com/albums/zz356/blatham489/LED%20Flasher%20issues/

Using switchback bulbs in front, led tails, electronic signal and flasher units (identical to each other) from Chev's of the 40's. Notice as voltage load increases (turn on parking lights, then headlights), front bulbs work less and less. With lights on, front signals don't flash at all. With nothing on, hazards flash but very dimly, add more lights and they don't work again.

Granted, the engine was not on and it's possible the battery is a tad low, but I started it up just a few days ago and it cranked right up with no hesitation so I think the battery has plenty of juice, especially considering LED's take very little current.


Anyone have any suggestions? Is this something unique to switchbacks? Do I need a special type of electronic flasher unit?


TIA

I had never heard of switchback bulbs so I went to Google. This website says a load equalizer may be needed with these bulbs.

Thanks for the research but what they are referring to are solid state flashers (not typical flashers used with incandescent bulbs) which are the ones I purchased from Chev's40's. Their use is not limited to switchbacks but all LED's.

Without them, the LED's didn't even flinch (knew they wouldn't, just wanted to see what they did while waiting on the right parts).

Holy Gadzooks Batmam!! Are we relamping the Batmobile? Are you buying the flashers/load equalizers from 'Chevys of the 40's' or the place you got the bulbs? They say they've got a patent on theirs. I wonder if you buy the flashers from 'Chevys of the 40's if they will work for you. Keep us informed.

Their load equilizers look nothing like a flasher to me.

Those are simply resistors to fool the flasher into thinking there is more load than just the LED (which creates very little load), which keeps them flashing at a normal rate. Electronic flashers eliminate the need for the load equalizers.


PROBLEM SOLVED:

Had a stroke of (rare) genius - "wonder what would happen if I switched the flashers?" I said to myself - hazards worked just fine, turn signals dim (or inoperable with headlights on) - just a bad electronic flasher. Who'd a thunk it? An electronic part bad outta the box ? nah, . . . never . . .