Saturday, May 5, 2018

Rear LED Turn Signals

Before I could replace the rear turn signal bulbs with LEDs, I had to slightly modify the dashboard turn indicator (LS1). Like most bikes that use a single indicator for both directions, each direction is wired to each side of the bulb. When the right side is flashing, the dash indicator is being grounded through the left indicator bulbs. Not enough current is running through the dash indicator to light up the bulbs on the other side. Unless you switch to LEDs. The fix is a small mod where you use two diodes (D1 and D2). For my mod, I used 1N4001 diodes which are rated at 1 amp. Sufficient for the dash indicator bulb. I was going to replace the indicator bulb with an LED but it is glued to the plastic lens. A non-replaceable bulb. Thank you, Ural...

I could then replace the rear turn signals with LEDs. The left was no problem. The bulb on the right side was so corroded that I used PB Blaster to get the bulb out of the socket. I should've done the tail/brake bulb as well as it is also corroded into place. But for now, the LED turn signals are working great!

Summer-like daylight is sneaking up. Civil twilight is almost after midnight and within a couple of weeks, it won't really be getting dark anymore. By mid-week, the forecast is for highs in the mid-60s. Maybe it's time to remove the studs from the tires and drag the Prius summer tires from the shed...

4 comments:

  1. Sure is nice to have functional turn signals. Put some on the old Moto Guzzi a while back, but not so high tech as yours. Good job! https://smilesfromnowherre.blogspot.com/2017/05/winkin-blinkin-and-nod.html

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    1. These LEDs are brighter than the stock incandescent bulbs. And, especially on a motorcycle, brighter is better. Maybe even more important with winter riding. I don't think high tech and Ural can be used in the same sentence. B

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  2. Brighter is definitely better, for turn signals, at least. I sure enjoyed our visit to Alaska, but I'm not sure I could go from eternal winter to eternal daylight. You are certainly a hardy lot!

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    1. Hardy or fools. It may be a fine line. Or at least it seems that way some times of the year.

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