Anyone else HATE using load resistors for LED swaps?
09-08-2014, 10:36 AM
#61
Federal DOT laws are for commercial vehicle's only, everything else is governed by state laws and those vary by state obviously.
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09-08-2014, 12:52 PM
#62
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Very true, commercial vehicles are governed by a different set of rules, although some will overlap with state/local regs.
I had Mr. DOT stop me because my front combination lights were alternating, instead of flashing in tandem. It was a wiring problem, and LED. If I'd been in a 4 wheeler, I doubt if he'd have noticed me. To be fair though, I didn't mind, he was doing his job, I hate unsafe vehicles as much as the DOT.
I had Mr. DOT stop me because my front combination lights were alternating, instead of flashing in tandem. It was a wiring problem, and LED. If I'd been in a 4 wheeler, I doubt if he'd have noticed me. To be fair though, I didn't mind, he was doing his job, I hate unsafe vehicles as much as the DOT.
10-19-2014, 04:29 PM
#63
Junior Member
This is from Superbright LEDs web page. It appears that swapping out the flasher for a LED Compatible one may be what we need. That page is here:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb_notes.php
"LED brake/tail lamps will not flash with thermal flasher units due to their extremely low current draw. Also, with stock flasher units, the turn signals may flash faster than normal (Hyper-Flash) or trigger bulb-out indicator on dash. Some vehicles will also disable the cruise control system if a brake light bulb is being indicated as bad. These installations will require an electronic flasher unit, available in our car bulb shopping category (for some vehicles) or at your auto parts store. Flashers designed to work with LED bulbs will often say "LED compatible". HEAVY DUTY flashers may also work with LED bulbs." pulled from that link 10/19/2014
https://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb_notes.php
"LED brake/tail lamps will not flash with thermal flasher units due to their extremely low current draw. Also, with stock flasher units, the turn signals may flash faster than normal (Hyper-Flash) or trigger bulb-out indicator on dash. Some vehicles will also disable the cruise control system if a brake light bulb is being indicated as bad. These installations will require an electronic flasher unit, available in our car bulb shopping category (for some vehicles) or at your auto parts store. Flashers designed to work with LED bulbs will often say "LED compatible". HEAVY DUTY flashers may also work with LED bulbs." pulled from that link 10/19/2014
10-19-2014, 07:52 PM
#64
Senior Member
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This is from Superbright LEDs web page. It appears that swapping out the flasher for a LED Compatible one may be what we need. That page is here: https://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb_notes.php "LED brake/tail lamps will not flash with thermal flasher units due to their extremely low current draw. Also, with stock flasher units, the turn signals may flash faster than normal (Hyper-Flash) or trigger bulb-out indicator on dash. Some vehicles will also disable the cruise control system if a brake light bulb is being indicated as bad. These installations will require an electronic flasher unit, available in our car bulb shopping category (for some vehicles) or at your auto parts store. Flashers designed to work with LED bulbs will often say "LED compatible". HEAVY DUTY flashers may also work with LED bulbs." pulled from that link 10/19/2014
10-21-2014, 01:37 AM
#65
Junior Member
Perhaps the trigger is too heavy
If the Signal is "Hyper-flashing" it's possible that the turn signal relay requires more load to switch on and off. I am not sure of the resistence through the Turn Signal Relay that our trucks use. I have some limited industrial / defense industry electronics experience, that can be helpful but I don't have the pinout diagrams from these relays. We would need the information for several similar relays as well, for a factory installed look, or a pigtail with exposed leads to manipulate the load, at one relay where the trigger voltage is needed to keep a constant rate. For example, if the resistance in the relay is met when it is on a normal load, the flash speed remains constant. However, if "burned out bulb" is detected, it is flashing at the increased rate. If we are able to change the resistance at the trigger location perhaps we can set the load to trigger with an incredibly small amount of current.
If that works it will not require additional heat dissipative, current absorbing resistance. I'd run this into the ground if I can get the specs, anyone have the relay specs?
If that works it will not require additional heat dissipative, current absorbing resistance. I'd run this into the ground if I can get the specs, anyone have the relay specs?
10-21-2014, 05:33 AM
#66
If the Signal is "Hyper-flashing" it's possible that the turn signal relay requires more load to switch on and off. I am not sure of the resistence through the Turn Signal Relay that our trucks use. I have some limited industrial / defense industry electronics experience, that can be helpful but I don't have the pinout diagrams from these relays. We would need the information for several similar relays as well, for a factory installed look, or a pigtail with exposed leads to manipulate the load, at one relay where the trigger voltage is needed to keep a constant rate. For example, if the resistance in the relay is met when it is on a normal load, the flash speed remains constant. However, if "burned out bulb" is detected, it is flashing at the increased rate. If we are able to change the resistance at the trigger location perhaps we can set the load to trigger with an incredibly small amount of current.
If that works it will not require additional heat dissipative, current absorbing resistance. I'd run this into the ground if I can get the specs, anyone have the relay specs?
If that works it will not require additional heat dissipative, current absorbing resistance. I'd run this into the ground if I can get the specs, anyone have the relay specs?
There isn't an actual relay or flasher, it's built into the circuitry of the body control module.
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10-21-2014, 05:47 AM
#67
I would like to know how.
I'm no electronics guru, but as far as I know, there is no microchip or brain of any kind in the light bulb itself. The only thing the line detects is resistance. What exactly is it decoding? ...Other than decoding the lack of resistance by adding some.
I'm no electronics guru, but as far as I know, there is no microchip or brain of any kind in the light bulb itself. The only thing the line detects is resistance. What exactly is it decoding? ...Other than decoding the lack of resistance by adding some.
False confidence booster to overcharge for a simple product really.....
10-21-2014, 08:35 AM
#68
You guys keep thinking of old flashers. there is no "flasher" in this truck. The BCM has a set of relays, solid state relays and mofsets used as relays. when you turn your signal on power is sent to a timer circuit. That circuit is set up to apply and remove power to its output at spific intervals. Its output goes to a relay that feeds the lights. There is also a circuit that sences the voltage difference (I beleive) to see if a bulb is blown. If that senses outside its set range is provides an output to the timer circuit making it flash faster. We could defete the hyperflash by severing the connection from the sensor to the timer. but I would much rather still have a hyperflash if a led goes out.
10-21-2014, 10:36 AM
#69
10-22-2014, 04:01 AM
#70
Junior Member
It should stand to reason the at some point in that circuit that we have a resistor. It should have a reference voltage; and voltage drop... The point being... Instead of the point of load resistors a central turn signal relay modification would be common. That's all...