Hello everyone !
First post on the boards, however I have been lurking for the last 3 years whilst I've been working on my GS500 (2009).
I've done a fair bit of work on my bike over the years, and I'd like to chuck in a quick thanks to everyone who submits to these boards, as your discussions have really helped me :)
My most recent project for my GS has been changing the indicators from bulbs to LEDs (these: http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Motorcycle-Indicators-LED-Carbon-Effect-2-Pack.aspx?pid=283889#Recommendations).
I changed the rear indicators yesterday which was a great success, however after changing the front indicators I am now experiencing the "4-flash"(?) that I've read a bit about - all 4 indicators are weakly flashing together.
I've read a few posts which point me in the direction of needing to install a diode (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57251.0)
Anyone have any experience with this, or any advice on what type of diode I need to install/where to install ?
Many thanks guys :)
- Josh
welcome. although LEDs are ideal due to brightness and life. their current draw is less than that of their incadescent cousins. hench the 4flash. as to what needs to be installed, i couldnt tell you. i did use a diode of some type been years ago tho (2007) iirc was wired inline on the power supply side of the signal lamps. ended up doing this after burning 3 sets of led directionals out.
Thank you, perhaps adding a small resistor to the positive flow on each indicator could help ? Just a thought, I might be completely wrong
forgive me as my mind is not the greatest ( declining health lol but i digress, mine would turbo flash ( flash FAST) I TRIED I THINK it was a resistor at first, followed by a relay more suited to an led assy. problem is whatever it was ended up working so i didnt really remember. this was in 2003 shortly after i bought frankenbike. ( search here youll find those stories. except for the electrical part.) did it again in 2007 with my 6th and final gs. this last one ive owned 2 times. it and the 2003 bike are still on the road. both were 97s all were Es. am sorry i couldnt be much help. but since ive got plenty of free time ( seriously am on no loadbearing on healing fractures) will find out exactly what you need. and where it goes. will be mid morning before i can post anything though. want to make sure its right. i learned the hard way lol. google was useless then cause led conversions were still fairly a new thing
Thank you so much ! Really appreciate advice from someone who has done this before :) Me being the person I am, I charged headfirst into this project without doing the proper research.
I have found a page which seems to have some really good info on the subject. I'll keep digging and also see what you come up with, but this looks like it might be the way to go !
http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/Load-resistors-for-LED-indicator-bulb-replacement-/10000000010344226/g.html
BINGO this will do the job. youll need 4 of them if youre going LED at each corner. ( front left, front right, rear left and rear right. iirc they install on the +12v wire for each directional.
Thanks mate ! I'll post back with results :)
In the meantime I have disconnected the dash light (indicator warning light), and this has resulted in only the correct side of indicators flashing - However they are flashing quite weakly.
Thank you !
shopping list.
4 of those, 8 spade connectors if not supplied theire inexpensive. and ends are rubber covered so no need for tape. also a crimping wrench. ( this will serve you well at this point and down the road. like installing a power tap on frame rail under seat for a gps or phone charger or a gopro or whatnot. a power tap witha waterproof rubber cover. if you point it downwards water will never get inside it. unless you ride her into a lake lol. sorry im getting all caught up in this sorry my friend. back to original thing. if it were me and this bike were a daily rider id consider either minimising usage of the led signals until kit arrives, OR, REINSTALL the incandescent directionals. until you have all the pieces you need. other1wise you risk burning out the led directionals. in 2003 my firszt attempt at this i went through 2 pairs 3 times at $15us each pair. ( why i went to radioshack. lol) ( i stumbled across my service tickets just now. i was covered for performing warranty work then and now. so i got paid to work on my own bike. ( when i bought new stuff which was a rarity lol. got most of my parts here in the fs/ft section. again sorry my friend, its fun reminiscing but ill let you sleep now mate. lol. get those 4 resistors the spade connectors. and a multipurpose crimping tool and youre golden. but id reinstall like i had said the incqandecent directionals until the kit arrives. so you dont risk burning out the led ones.
Aaron
I'm pretty sure all you need is two 20 cent diodes. 1n4007 or similar. Search the forum for "led diode mod" or similar. It's a well documented mod ,there are pics and instructions on the forum.
long winded semi relevant post snipped in favour of this gem i found authored by pandy. one of our admins. found via search in the FAQs: have a good look see this may answer most if not all of your questions and concerns.:
gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24294.msg249421#msg249421
I'm having issues with the dash light for the indicators. It only operates when the left turn signal is on. Guess it's related to this issue too.
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been up for 20+ hours but having fun. will dig up a schematic for the gs500 electrical system. iirc theres a trigger for both sides. perhaps the feed for the right side somehow became disconnected? most of the wiring on the bike will be inside the headlight bucket. well most of the terminals and such. be back in a few with the link for the schematic its here ive seen and used it along with my mmi one.
gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=57920.0
near the bottom i spied a diagram. now wiring does change pretty much every year. and these are copyrighted too. so this i feel is saqfe to post here. ill search later on for others but theure widely available from mr googles office lol. just search ( year) gs500 electrical diagram. for the applicable one. in a few hours when im online at old work place ill see if i can find the relevant one for your bike.
until then ,
adieu for a few hours,
Aaron
thanks for the link. I think its more a problem inherent in LEDs as the light flashes as normal with a regular bulb in the socket.
/jimmy
I just found this relay, special for LEDs: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/led-turn-signal-relay
If the problem is the incandescent bulb setup relay, then, instead of turning low power consumtion LEDs to higher power consumption incandescent bulbs to work with the incandescent bulb relay, change the relay as well for one which depends not on the bulbs resistance. it is not that expensive, I guess. Just my .02. Haven't done it yet though.
Enjoy your ride
Hey guys,
So those 4 load resistors arrived, I wired them in.. and nothing !
I'm still getting the weak 4-flash issue. As soon as I hook up the 2 old bulbs to the front indicators, the issue is gone. If I remove the bulb from just one side, only that side flashes weakly, and the other side is fine. Surely the 50w resistors would be enough to mimic a bulb being attached??
Any other ideas ? :(
Skript, I think that your problem is that the new turn signals that you have (and other LED Bulbs) require very little current to turn on.
There's two main problems when bulbs are changed to LEDs.
1) Flashing too fast or not flashing at all
There's two ways to fix this. The first way is to add load resistors. The flasher relay is current dependent, so when you switch to an LED that draws much less current than the incandescent, it will flash differently (faster in our case, I believe). Adding load resistors increases the current draw to the previous level. The second option, in my opinion, the better options, is to use an Electronic Flasher. These flash at the same rate regardless of current draw.
2)4-flash
This is caused by the wiring setup our bikes use for the dash indicator. If you turn on signal to the left, 12V is applied directly to the two right bulbs on the left (point 'A'), then the indicator is powered from the left and through the right two bulbs. pseudo schematic below:
(http://i.imgur.com/Fmig6w9.png)
You need to grab two diodes and do this:
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb442/adidasguy/Assorted/diodes.png)
Hi EdChen, thanks for your reply !
Just looking at the second diagram you've posted, and I may be misreading it; is it asking me to bridge the positive(12v) and ground wire together before going to the positive connector of the LED indicator ?
Correct. Don't think of it as positive and negative, neither side of the dash indicator bulb socket is directly connected to + or -. Positive is applied to either side of hte bulb (depending on a right or left turn) then grounds through the opposite bulbs.
So basically, you completely cut off both wires to the socket. Solder in two diodes with both ends on one of the socket's wires (either terminal). Then solder the other two wires to the other ends of the diode. The remaining socket wire is to be grounded to the chassis.
Below is a sketch of how you'll do it. I don't know the best place to do it, but right at the socket makes sense to me.
(http://i.imgur.com/Xl07HjQ.png)
I see ! Makes a lot more sense , thanks !
Just to confirm a few things before I get to work:
- what 'diodes' are in use here? In the original diagram they were LED's , but in your latest image they are resistors.
- I am wiring this ONLY to the dash bulb, correct?
Thanks again for your elaboration, I really appreciate it !
Quote from: Skript on September 14, 2015, 04:47:26 PM
- what 'diodes' are in use here? In the original diagram they were LED's , but in your latest image they are resistors.
EdChen's 1st post showed the schematic symbol for a diode. The 2nd showed a representation of the physical diode. (The line indicates cathode)
For reference:
LED
(http://www.clipartbest.com/cliparts/RiA/d69/RiAd69LiL.jpeg)
Diode
(http://cdn.instructables.com/FB9/UV6O/H5JVXMX1/FB9UV6OH5JVXMX1.MEDIUM.gif)
crackin posted earlier in the post suggesting the 1N4007 diode, but it may be worthwhile to research a bit more.
Quote from: crackin on September 08, 2015, 01:23:05 AM
I'm pretty sure all you need is two 20 cent diodes. 1n4007 or similar. Search the forum for "led diode mod" or similar. It's a well documented mod ,there are pics and instructions on the forum.
Quote from: Skript on September 14, 2015, 04:47:26 PM
- I am wiring this ONLY to the dash bulb, correct?
EdChen's last post is showing the wiring just to the dash bulb. Each wire that is currently running to it will be modified, and a new ground circuit will need to be added.
Hopefully that helps.
Oh god, major derp moment on my part :(
Thanks for the clarification, been too many years since I've properly worked with electronics.
Issue is all sorted now with the diodes installed, thanks everyone for all your help !
Glad to hear you got it working!
Pr1m3 is right, I switched from schematic symbols to a physical representation, trying to make it easier to understand, well, in my mind at least...
I'm actually in the middle of prototyping a 5 LED bulb kit that would be a drop in replacement for the turn signals, requiring no wiring changes. It would still need a new flasher relay to maintain the flash speed.