Heavy AK
Novice Class
Posts: 64
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posted January 10, 2008 12:56 PM
Resistor for LEDs
I have the LED lights mounted in the front and back of my bike. The question is what resistor works best:
to give a stock blink rate?
to give a faster blink rate?
My rate actually slowed down. I have the integrated tail/turn lights and I'm tired of playing around with the electrical system.
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted January 10, 2008 01:46 PM
i think a resistor inline will slow down the blink rate, but im not sure. my led signals in my undertail blink like they are on speed lol. (need to get that fixed sometime)
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00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
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Heavy AK
Novice Class
Posts: 64
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posted January 10, 2008 04:21 PM
I know resistors affect the blink rate by producing a load which in turns makes the lights blink at a certain rate. I have tried increasing the ohms (and left the wattage alone) but I'm not an electrician so it's hit and run.
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ZXLNT
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
Posts: 2853
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posted January 10, 2008 06:44 PM
LED's have a higher internal resistance than regular bulbs do. That reduces the amount of current through the flasher relay. That increases the flash rate. To slow it back down you need to increase the current flow thru the flasher relay. You do that by adding parallel resistance. You wire the resistors in parallel with the LEDS. One resistor lead to one LED leg and the other side of the resistor to the other LED leg. That gives the current another path to flow thru, decreasing the total circuit resistance and increasing current flow.
If you wire the resistor inline you just increase the total circuit resistance and decrease the current flow, which exactly opposite of what your trying to achieve..
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted January 11, 2008 06:25 AM
thx ZXLNT !
any idea how much resistance would be a good starting point?
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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Heavy AK
Novice Class
Posts: 64
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posted January 11, 2008 09:07 AM
Aaahhh....now that is good information ZXLNT! Now I have a good starting point...I was wiring them inline and having to tinker around from that point...I beileve that I'll make great strides now.
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A little GAS is a good thing!
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ZXLNT
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
Posts: 2853
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posted January 11, 2008 11:52 AM
3-5 ohms with at least at the very least 10 watts power rating on the resistor. It will be a large resistor, with the most common looking like a long sugar cube with wires sticking out the end..
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psycho1122
Pro
Posts: 1608
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posted January 14, 2008 07:24 AM
 Edited By: psycho1122 on 14 Jan 2008 07:24
How abou installing the Auto Compensating Flasher fRelay from NAPA?
Done.
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ZXLNT
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
Posts: 2853
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posted January 14, 2008 03:55 PM
Yeah you can use an electronic flasher as well. Or a Tridon HD12 i think it is, which is still a thermal flasher..
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Heavy AK
Novice Class
Posts: 64
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posted January 15, 2008 10:38 AM
PSYCHO1122 have you used the relay from NAPA? Is it adjustable or anything or just splice and use?
ZXLNT what is your experience with the Tridon HD12?
I am looking for something that will allow me to install it and not have to worry about the blinking rate ever again.
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psycho1122
Pro
Posts: 1608
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posted January 16, 2008 05:56 AM
Heavy; Yeah, I use the NAPA electronic flasher. I re-spliced new plugs for the different orientation of the spades on the flasher. I did this YEARS ago and the flasher was around $11.00 at the time.
Recently installed a "Clear Alternatives" LED tailight assm. and it was plug and play without the included resistors!
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You say PSYCHO like it's a BAD thing!!
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ZXLNT
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
Posts: 2853
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posted January 16, 2008 09:24 PM
Heavy, I have never used the Tridon, however I have read of others using it with sucess. I use the resistor trick myself..
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